Compare towns
East Brookfield vs Upton vs Charlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
East Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Charlton has the youngest population (median age 43).
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.
| Measure | East Brookfield | Upton | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,166Lowest |
8,189 |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±6.4Highest 30% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43±4Lowest 8% above MA |
| East Brookfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| East Brookfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,042±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$117,587±$8k 13% above MA |
| Upton and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $381,200±$30kLowest 32% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$427,500±$19k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$33 35% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA |
| Charlton and East Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,430Lowest 26% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,617 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.2%±39.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.