Compare towns
Reading vs Ripton vs St. George 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
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
St. George has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
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 | Ripton | St. George | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
508Lowest |
812 |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
44.7±13.4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±7Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| St. George and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$109,464±$34k 36% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$376,800±$50kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,394±$132Highest about the U.S. average |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| St. George and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,514 77% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
96%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. George and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| St. George and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | 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 | 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.