Compare towns

Thompson vs Upton vs Webster vs Canterbury

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).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (88.7%).

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.

MeasureThompsonUptonWebsterCanterbury
People
Population
9,337
8,189
17,748Highest
5,124Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
48.4±4.5
24% above U.S.
Thompson and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
15%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.4%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Canterbury and Thompson 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%
25.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
26.2%
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%
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
Webster and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,629±$18k
16% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$72,895±$6kLowest
10% below U.S.
$103,198±$6k
28% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$291,900±$24kLowest
12% below U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$361,500±$12k
9% above U.S.
$334,200±$12k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344
28% below U.S.
$948±$599
33% below U.S.
$1,228±$81Highest
13% below U.S.
$924±$367Lowest
35% below U.S.
Webster 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.
$3,999
28% above U.S.
$4,140
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±6.7
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±13Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson and Upton 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%
12.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
31 minLowest
16% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Canterbury 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 #271 of 282 in MA #125 of 149 in CT
School district Thompson School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Webster Canterbury School District
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School Blackstone Valley Bartlett High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
11.2
11.6Highest
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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.