Compare towns
Thompson vs Upton vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Ashburnham has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
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.
| Measure | Thompson | Upton | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Highest |
8,189 |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Upton and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Ashburnham 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Thompson School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
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.