Compare towns
Strafford vs Upton vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Newton has the shortest commute (30 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 | Strafford | Upton | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
8,189Highest |
4,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Newton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$138,487±$29k 72% above U.S. |
| Upton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18k 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Newton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$8,124 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Newton 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.