Compare towns
Middleton vs Upton vs Effingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
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 | Middleton | Upton | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,595Lowest |
8,189Highest |
1,912 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±5.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
46.9±12.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Effingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middleton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$76,607±$14kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,300±$27kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$322,700±$30k 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$293Highest 6% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,090±$121 23% below U.S. |
| Middleton and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,504 76% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,163Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 47% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.1%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Effingham 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 | Middleton School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Governor Wentworth Regional 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 | 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.