Compare towns
Paxton vs Upton vs Brooklyn vs Holden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Holden has the most kids (24.9% 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.
| Measure | Paxton | Upton | Brooklyn | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
8,189 |
8,517 |
20,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3 7% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
41.5±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Upton and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Holden and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$141,923±$11k 76% above U.S. |
| Upton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29k 42% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$470,700±$13k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88 about the U.S. average |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,648±$214Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Holden and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129 129% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,538Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,359 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Holden 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Paxton 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT | #57 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Brooklyn School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Wachusett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.