What stands out worked out from the figures below

Upton has the highest household income ($156k).

Barnard has the most affordable homes ($403k 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.

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

Measure	Upton	Barnard
People
Population	8,189Highest	1,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S.	42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Upton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Barnard and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Barnard 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S.	$97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S.	$402,600±$71kLowest 21% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S.	$1,372±$80Highest about the U.S. average
	Barnard 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.	$6,038Lowest 94% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1%	27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Upton and Barnard 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%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.3%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Upton and Barnard 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	—
School district	Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
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.