Compare towns

Hope vs Upton vs Appleton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k 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.

MeasureHopeUptonAppleton
People
Population
1,748
8,189Highest
1,360Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±3.1Lowest
15% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
49.2±7.4Highest
26% above U.S.
Appleton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.3%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hope and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±9.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Appleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Appleton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,766±$6k
7% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$53,618±$19kLowest
34% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$373,400±$33k
12% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$235,600±$33kLowest
29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,219±$182Highest
14% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,104±$82
22% below U.S.
Hope and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,842
23% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$3,588Lowest
15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.8%±38.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
Work from home
18.3%±10.2
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Hope 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 Hope Public Schools Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Appleton Public Schools
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

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.