Compare towns

Middlesex vs Upton vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k 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.

MeasureMiddlesexUptonPlainfield
People
Population
1,943
8,189Highest
1,314Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
48.1±5.5Highest
24% above U.S.
Plainfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$109,632±$13k
36% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
Upton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$318,400±$34kLowest
4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359Highest
6% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,483
108% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$4,806Lowest
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Upton 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton —
High school in town None in town Blackstone Valley —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2
—
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.