Compare towns
Middlesex vs Upton vs Rowley
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 affordable homes ($376k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k 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 | Middlesex | Upton | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
8,189Highest |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
50±6.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Rowley 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% |
19.3%±4.5Lowest 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% |
21.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rowley 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$132,734±$32k 64% above U.S. |
| Upton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$667,300±$52kHighest 101% above U.S. |
| Rowley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,603±$520Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Rowley and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$8,309 166% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rowley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±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 | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Triton |
| 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 | 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.