Compare towns

Otis vs Upton vs Whately

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Otis has the most affordable homes ($397k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Whately has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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.

MeasureOtisUptonWhately
People
Population
1,624
8,189Highest
1,499Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%
MA: +7.4%
+7.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
51±3.2Highest
28% above MA
46.4±4.8Lowest
16% above MA
49.3±6.7
23% above MA
Otis and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.1%±4.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.4%±3.8
MA: 19.4%
Upton and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28%±3.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±4.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
24.5%±6.3
MA: 17.9%
Otis and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.2%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
53.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
47.6%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
2.5%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
Otis and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,898±$6kLowest
5% above MA
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% above MA
$116,563±$15k
12% above MA
Upton and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$396,700±$40kLowest
29% below MA
$576,700±$41kHighest
about the MA average
$431,500±$22k
23% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,318±$924Highest
25% below MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
$977±$125
45% below MA
Otis and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,408Lowest
60% below MA
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
$5,027
16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31
MA: 51.8%
26.7%±29Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Otis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
3.2%
MA: 10%
5.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
88.2%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
10 yrs newer than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1974Lowest
10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
15% above MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
23 minLowest
21% below MA
Work from home
22.3%±7.7
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
20.4%±8.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Upton and Otis 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 Farmington River Reg Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Whately
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

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.