Compare towns

Ripton vs Upton vs Worcester vs Middletown Springs

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% 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.

MeasureRiptonUptonWorcesterMiddletown Springs
People
Population
508Lowest
8,189Highest
831
747
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Lowest
19% above U.S.
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
49.2±5.1Highest
26% above U.S.
Middletown Springs and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Middletown Springs and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$82,000±$12k
about the U.S. average
Upton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
$262,200±$24kLowest
21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,023±$136
28% below U.S.
$1,208±$438Highest
15% below U.S.
Middletown Springs and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$4,595
47% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
20%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester 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 — #46 of 282 in MA — —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69
High school in town None in town Blackstone Valley None in town None in town
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.