Compare towns
Upton vs Bethlehem vs Lyme
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 most kids (23.2% under 18).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($411k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Bethlehem | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189Highest |
3,423 |
2,303Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
55.6±3.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Bethlehem 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% |
16.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Bethlehem 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% |
24.5%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bethlehem 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. |
$108,929±$16kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$135,000±$22k 67% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$629,900±$105kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Upton 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. |
$1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,719±$1kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Bethlehem 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. |
$5,932Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$7,328 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 18 |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | 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.