Compare towns
Franklin vs Mapleton vs Union 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
Franklin has the most renters (23.2% rent).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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 | Mapleton | Union | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,628Lowest |
1,884 |
2,663 |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±9.3 18% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,455±$16kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$59k 26% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306 37% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
| Union and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,231 28% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Union 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | 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 | 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.