Compare towns
Stafford vs Union vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k median).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Stafford | Union | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,511Highest |
944Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8 20% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Union and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,235±$16k 15% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$85Highest 23% below U.S. |
— | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Stafford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,131 65% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #96 of 149 in CT | — | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stafford School District | Union School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Stafford High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.