Compare towns
Russell vs Upton vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Russell has the most affordable homes ($303k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Hancock has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Russell | Upton | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 487Lowest |
8,189Highest |
752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±12.8Lowest 13% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
47.1±11.1Highest 18% above MA |
| Hancock and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 4.5%±8.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±10.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±3.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Russell and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,806±$37k about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$96,250±$26kLowest 7% below MA |
| Upton and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,800±$39kLowest 46% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$375,500±$21k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $825±$556Lowest 53% below MA |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
$1,268±$415Highest 28% below MA |
| Hancock and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,746 21% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.3%±80.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±36.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.3%±7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hancock |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.