What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shrewsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).

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	Shrewsbury	Upton
People
Population	38,876Highest	8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.6±1.5Lowest about the MA average	46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA
	Upton and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4%	23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.4%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Upton and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	65.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$139,302±$11kLowest 34% above MA	$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA
	Upton and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$592,300±$20kHighest 5% above MA	$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average
	Shrewsbury and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,116±$98Highest 20% above MA	$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,923Lowest 16% above MA	$8,376Highest 40% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.2%±6.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8%
	Upton and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Highest MA: 10%	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 6% above MA	35 minHighest 22% above MA
Work from home	26.3%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%	22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Shrewsbury 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	#30 of 282 in MA	#46 of 282 in MA
School district	Shrewsbury	Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town	Shrewsbury High School	Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school	14.4Highest	11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.