Compare towns
Thompson vs Upton vs Needham
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 homeowners (86.7%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Thompson | Upton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
8,189Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Upton 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest 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% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #130 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Thompson School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Needham |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Blackstone Valley | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
11.2 |
11.9Highest |
| 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.