Compare towns
Union vs Upton vs Wakefield vs Orange
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 (35.9% under 18).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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 | Wakefield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 131Lowest |
8,189Highest |
5,405 |
320 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 23.6±30.9Lowest 39% below U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S. |
41.3±9.1 6% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 35.9%±42.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 0%±31.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±13Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orange and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,117±$19kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
$118,750±$39k 47% above U.S. |
| Upton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $162,900±$135kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
$302,600±$35k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Wakefield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,258Lowest 60% below U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
$5,132 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | — | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±25.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.8%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Union 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Wakefield School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | 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.