Compare towns
Franklin vs Upton vs Hampton vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
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 | Franklin | Upton | Hampton | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,004 |
8,189Highest |
1,647Lowest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3 4% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,000±$10k 30% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Upton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
— |
| Hampton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Hampton 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Franklin School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hampton School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.