Compare towns
Union vs Upton vs Webster vs Scotland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Scotland has the most affordable homes ($294k 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 | Union | Upton | Webster | Scotland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
8,189 |
17,748Highest |
1,599 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.7±5 15% above U.S. |
| Union and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3Lowest 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+ | 24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$99,881±$12k 24% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$294,100±$20kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,188±$468 16% below U.S. |
| Webster and Scotland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793 54% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,175 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±75.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer 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. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Scotland 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Union School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Webster | Scotland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.