Compare towns
Spencer vs Upton vs Charlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Charlton has the youngest population (median age 43).
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 | Spencer | Upton | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008 |
8,189Lowest |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43±4Lowest 8% above MA |
| Spencer and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer 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% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$117,587±$8k 13% above MA |
| Upton and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$427,500±$19k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161 39% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA |
| Charlton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,617 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Blackstone Valley | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
11.2Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| 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.