Compare towns

Pepperell vs Union 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).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k 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.

MeasurePepperellUnionUpton
People
Population
11,663Highest
944Lowest
8,189
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.
49.9±4.3Highest
28% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
Union and Upton 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%
16.9%±4.3Lowest
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%
24.5%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Union and Upton 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%
24%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±3.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pepperell and Union 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.
$88,958±$14kLowest
10% 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.
$330,400±$26kLowest
about the U.S. average
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,295±$238Highest
8% below U.S.
—
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
Pepperell and Upton 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.
$4,793Lowest
54% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.1%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
90%±64.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
Union and Upton 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%
5.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
28% above U.S.
32 minLowest
20% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±3.7Lowest
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 — #46 of 282 in MA
School district North Middlesex Union School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town None 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.