Compare towns
Union vs Upton vs Hope vs Washington
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 most kids (24.9% under 18).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($195k 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 | Hope | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
8,189Highest |
1,748 |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
48.2±6.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Washington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$59,861±$17kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$195,200±$36kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,036±$322 27% below U.S. |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276 5% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$2,286Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±62.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Washington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Hope 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hope Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| 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.