Compare towns
Jay vs Upton vs Wheelock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Wheelock has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Jay | Upton | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
8,189Highest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
51±5.6 31% above U.S. |
| Jay and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wheelock and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $948±$599 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$2,937Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school 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 |
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.