Compare towns

Thompson vs Ware 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

Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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.

MeasureThompsonWareUpton
People
Population
9,337
10,048Highest
8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
43.1±4.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
Kids under 18
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Ware 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%
20.6%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
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%
24%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ware 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±$18k
16% above U.S.
$67,475±$15kLowest
16% below U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$291,900±$24k
12% below U.S.
$289,700±$28kLowest
13% below U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344
28% below U.S.
$1,043±$109Highest
26% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
Ware 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.
$4,237
36% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
64.3%±16.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware 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%
11.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above U.S.
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Thompson 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 #267 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA
School district Thompson School District Ware Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School Ware Junior/Senior High School Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
11.1
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.