Compare towns
Upton vs Acton vs Marblehead vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($477k 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 | Upton | Acton | Marblehead | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
24,155 |
20,413 |
30,431Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Marblehead and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$96,365±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
| Marblehead and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$476,700±$12kLowest 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,909±$137 8% above MA |
| Acton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$5,869Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Milford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
7.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
65.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Marblehead 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #213 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Acton-Boxborough | Marblehead | Milford |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Marblehead High | Milford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
13.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.