Compare towns
Southwick vs Upton vs Monson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Southwick has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Monson has the most affordable homes ($348k median).
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 | Southwick | Upton | Monson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,217Highest |
8,189 |
8,136Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±1.8 17% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
47.8±3.2Highest 20% above MA |
| Monson and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.1%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Monson and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Monson and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $120,462±$16k 16% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$96,688±$14kLowest 7% below MA |
| Upton and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $397,500±$27k 29% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$348,400±$15kLowest 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,332±$72Highest 24% below MA |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
$871±$215Lowest 51% below MA |
| Southwick and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,331 11% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,877Lowest 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±10 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±7.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Southwick 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 | #211 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #235 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Monson |
| High school in town | Southwick Regional School | Blackstone Valley | Monson High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
11.2Highest |
8.2Lowest |
| 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.