Compare towns
Goshen vs Upton vs Williamsburg vs Ashfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Goshen has the most affordable homes ($352k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Williamsburg has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
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 | Goshen | Upton | Williamsburg | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 915Lowest |
8,189Highest |
2,694 |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±5.8 45% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
50±2.4 25% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
| Ashfield and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,906±$10k 5% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$104,792±$21k about the MA average |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
| Upton and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,900±$25kLowest 37% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$403,100±$37k 28% below MA |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $869±$727Lowest 51% below MA |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
$1,420±$228Highest 19% below MA |
$1,100±$200 38% below MA |
| Williamsburg and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,022Lowest 16% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,761 4% below MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±66.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61%±28 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 3 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.1%±7.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg and Ashfield 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 | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Williamsburg | Mohawk Trail |
| High school 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 |
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.