Compare towns

Nashua 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

Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.

MeasureNashuaUptonPlainfield
People
Population
91,294Highest
8,189Lowest
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
40±1.3
about the U.S. average
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Kids under 18
18.6%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.9%±1
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Upton and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±0.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$96,326±$5k
19% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$403,900±$11k
21% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,737±$41Highest
23% above U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,799
118% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.8%±4.2
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
17.4%±1.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Nashua 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 #67 of 120 in NH #46 of 282 in MA #131 of 149 in CT
School district Nashua School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Plainfield School District
High school in town Nashua High School South Blackstone Valley Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
11.2
10.3Lowest
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.