Compare towns
Montague vs Upton vs Easthampton vs Wendell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montague has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Easthampton has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Wendell has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
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 | Montague | Upton | Easthampton | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,482 |
8,189 |
16,086Highest |
850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
— | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.1Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
46±2.6 15% above MA |
47.1±8.8Highest 18% above MA |
| Wendell and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
51.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,510±$12k 32% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$71,673±$7k 31% below MA |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,100±$17kLowest 50% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$115 31% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA |
$1,239±$519 30% below MA |
| Easthampton and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 35% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,932 18% below MA |
$4,519 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.6%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Montague and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
22 min 23% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Easthampton 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 | #265 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical · Gill-Montague | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Easthampton | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | Franklin County Technical | Blackstone Valley | Easthampton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.2 |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.