Compare towns
Madison vs Upton vs Madison Center
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Madison Center has the most expensive homes ($842k 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.
| Measure | Madison | Upton | Madison Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616Highest |
8,189 |
1,981Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9 33% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
60.4±6.3Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.5%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
73.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Madison Center and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,442±$16k 107% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kLowest 93% above U.S. |
$178,194±$59kHighest 121% above U.S. |
| Madison Center and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $583,900±$30k 76% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kLowest 73% above U.S. |
$841,800±$105kHighest 153% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741Highest 43% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,914±$1k 35% above U.S. |
| Madison and Madison Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,843 184% above U.S. |
$8,376Lowest 169% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.6%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±10.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Madison and Madison Center 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 | #7 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Madison School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.

