Compare towns
Upton vs Acton vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Acton has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
Milford has the most renters (37.8% 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 | Upton | Acton | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189 |
2,721Lowest |
27,731Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
38.5±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Acton 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milford and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$93,310±$5k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$464,700±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | $1,889±$133Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,664 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 34% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Acton 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | #213 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Acton Public Schools | — |
| 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 |
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.