What stands out worked out from the figures below

Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).

Upton has the most kids (23.2% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Scarborough	Upton
People
Population	23,215Highest	8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±2.7Highest 25% above U.S.	46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Scarborough and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Scarborough and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	53.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Scarborough and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,558±$21kLowest 65% above U.S.	$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S.
	Upton and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$551,900±$39kLowest 66% above U.S.	$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S.
	Upton and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,956±$178Highest 38% above U.S.	$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,978Lowest 92% above U.S.	$8,376Highest 169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.9%±13.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Upton and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.
Work from home	24.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Scarborough 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	#35 of 133 in ME	#46 of 282 in MA
School district	Scarborough Public Schools	Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town	Scarborough High School	Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	11.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.