Compare towns

Dummerston vs Strafford vs Upton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureDummerstonStraffordUpton
People
Population
2,090
1,372Lowest
8,189Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±11.7Lowest
17% above U.S.
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
Strafford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.7%±6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dummerston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Strafford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,696±$21kLowest
26% above U.S.
$110,833±$19k
37% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
Upton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$335,300±$22kLowest
about the U.S. average
$431,300±$40k
30% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,125±$789
20% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
Dummerston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
$7,149
129% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±48
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #46 of 282 in MA
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Strafford School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town None in town None in town Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.