What stands out worked out from the figures below

Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).

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.

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

Measure	Upton	Amherst
People
Population	8,189Lowest	11,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S.	45.9±3.5Lowest 18% above U.S.
	Upton and Amherst 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%	22.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Amherst and Upton 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.	$153,196±$10kLowest 90% above U.S.
	Upton and Amherst 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.	$537,600±$30kLowest 62% above U.S.
	Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S.	$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S.
	Amherst and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,376Lowest 169% above U.S.	$9,773Highest 213% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Upton and Amherst 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%	4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.	33 minLowest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Amherst and Upton 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	#20 of 120 in NH
School district	Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town	Blackstone Valley	Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.