Compare towns

Kingston vs Upton vs Lunenburg

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kingston has the most expensive homes ($611k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

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.

MeasureKingstonUptonLunenburg
People
Population
14,027Highest
8,189Lowest
11,902
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+16.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46.5±3.9Highest
16% above MA
46.4±4.8
16% above MA
43.2±2.1Lowest
8% above MA
Kingston and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.9%±3.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.1%±3
MA: 19.4%
Upton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.8%±3.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±4.9
MA: 17.9%
17.9%±2.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Kingston and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.2%
MA: 47.3%
53.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
44%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.1
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±1.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
Lunenburg and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$119,876±$13k
15% above MA
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% above MA
$112,828±$11kLowest
9% above MA
Upton and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$610,600±$30kHighest
9% above MA
$576,700±$41k
about the MA average
$463,900±$24kLowest
17% below MA
Kingston and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,159±$244
34% below MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
$1,974±$586Highest
12% above MA
Lunenburg and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,650
28% above MA
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
$6,401Lowest
7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
35.9%±13Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.8%±13.5
MA: 51.8%
Upton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
3.2%
MA: 10%
4.2%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.2%
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
80.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
18 yrs newer than MA
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
1972Lowest
8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minLowest
20% above MA
35 min
22% above MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
Work from home
19.5%±4.9
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
15.8%±3.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Upton and Kingston 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 #99 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA #87 of 282 in MA
School district Kingston · Silver Lake Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Lunenburg
High school in town Silver Lake Regional High Blackstone Valley Lunenburg High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.0
11.2Lowest
12.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.