Compare towns
Heath vs Rowe vs Upton vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Rowe has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
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 | Heath | Rowe | Upton | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765 |
453Lowest |
8,189Highest |
1,118 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Charlemont and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
23%±5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2 MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Charlemont and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8% MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$305,500±$52k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,023±$126 42% below MA |
| Rowe and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,351 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Charlemont and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
78.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 20% above MA |
36 min 22% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath 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 | — | Rowe | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Blackstone Valley | 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.