What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orleans has the most expensive homes ($957k median).

Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Orleans	Upton
People
Population	6,415Lowest	8,189Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	64.7±2.5Highest 62% above MA	46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA
Kids under 18	10.6%±2.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	49.3%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9%	20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Orleans and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,335±$13kLowest about the MA average	$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$957,000±$85kHighest 70% above MA	$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,502±$703Highest 15% below MA	$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA
	Orleans and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,486Lowest 8% below MA	$8,376Highest 40% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8%	52.8%±31 MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	8.6%Highest MA: 10%	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 24% below MA	35 minHighest 22% above MA
Work from home	27.4%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6%	22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Orleans 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	#158 of 282 in MA	#46 of 282 in MA
School district	Nauset · Orleans	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

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.