Compare towns
Marlow vs Upton vs Lempster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlow has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Marlow | Upton | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
8,189Highest |
953 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lempster and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$86,607±$12kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Upton and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$241,900±$29kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160Highest 18% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Marlow and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826 87% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,558Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lempster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 33% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Lempster School District |
| 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 | 4 photos → | 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.