Compare towns
Medfield vs Reading vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Medfield has the highest household income ($236k).
Reading has the most renters (17.6% rent).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k 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 | Medfield | Reading | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,068 |
25,612Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3Lowest 6% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Medfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Reading and Medfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $235,800±$32kHighest 127% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$155,508±$33kLowest 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $911,100±$32kHighest 62% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$559Highest 15% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Medfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Medfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Medfield and Reading 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 | #26 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Medfield | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Medfield Senior High | — | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.