Compare towns
Middlefield vs Peru vs Upton vs Hawley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Hawley has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
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 | Middlefield | Peru | Upton | Hawley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 352 |
630 |
8,189Highest |
277Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
56.8±7.2 42% above MA |
| Middlefield and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.7%±10 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
37.2%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hawley and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% MA: 47.3% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.2%±5.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Peru and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,750±$23k about the MA average |
$90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$87,500±$26kLowest 16% below MA |
| Upton and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$309,600±$38k 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
— | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
— |
| Middlefield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,926 18% below MA |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,097 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
50%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±12.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Hawley 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 | — | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | — | — | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.