Compare towns
Hope vs Upton vs Appleton vs Union
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).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Hope | Upton | Appleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
8,189Highest |
1,360Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% 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%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Hope 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% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Union 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% |
34.4% 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% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Union 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. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$267,600±$42k 20% 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. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Hope and Union 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. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%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% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older 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. |
29 min 11% 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% |
15.9%±5.3 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.