What stands out worked out from the figures below

Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).

Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).

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	Atkinson
People
Population	8,189Highest	7,267Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S.	57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Atkinson 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%	42.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Atkinson 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.	$146,380±$32kLowest 81% above U.S.
	Upton and Atkinson 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.	$555,200±$65kLowest 67% above U.S.
	Upton and Atkinson 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.	$1,140±$32Highest 19% below U.S.
	Atkinson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,376Highest 169% above U.S.	$6,918Lowest 122% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Atkinson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.	28 minLowest 7% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.1%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Upton and Atkinson 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	#32 of 120 in NH
School district	Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton	Timberlane Regional 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

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.