Compare towns
Reading vs Wilbraham vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Reading | Wilbraham | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
14,572 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
44.3±2.7 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wilbraham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$122,051±$14kLowest 17% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Reading and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,175±$241 33% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,658Lowest 11% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Wilbraham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Hampden-Wilbraham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Minnechaug Regional High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
14.2Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.