Compare towns
Thornton vs Upton vs Chesterfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Chesterfield has the most renters (16.4% rent).
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 | Thornton | Upton | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Lowest |
8,189Highest |
3,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7 20% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thornton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
| Upton and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$428 10% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,344 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Upton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Thornton School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Chesterfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.