Compare towns
Nelson vs Roxbury vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Roxbury has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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 | Nelson | Roxbury | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648 |
299Lowest |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.2±17.7 11% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.4%±15.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Roxbury and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$69,226±$14kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$323,100±$219kLowest about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
— | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$5,787 86% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | Nelson School District | — | 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.