Compare towns
Shirley vs Upton vs Hardwick vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shirley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.8%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
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 | Shirley | Upton | Hardwick | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,146 |
8,189Highest |
2,684 |
752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±14.6Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% 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 | 18.4%±8.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±6.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±3.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,494±$62k 4% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$96,250±$26k 7% below MA |
| Upton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,800±$50k 30% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$375,500±$21k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $982±$797 44% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,268±$415Highest 28% below MA |
| Hancock and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,398 27% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±15Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±36.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
10.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±17.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Quabbin | Hancock |
| High school 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 |
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.