What stands out worked out from the figures below

Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Upton	Alton
People
Population	8,189Highest	5,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S.	53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S.
	Alton 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%	13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Alton 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%	35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Upton and Alton 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.	$113,715±$19kLowest 41% above U.S.
	Upton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S.	$430,400±$37kLowest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$948±$599 33% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,376Highest 169% above U.S.	$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Upton and Alton 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%	4.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Upton and Alton 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	#72 of 120 in NH
School district	Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town	Blackstone Valley	Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.