Compare towns
Pepperell vs Plainville 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
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Pepperell | Plainville | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
17,551Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 115% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.