What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Canaan has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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	Canaan
People
Population	8,189Highest	1,175Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S.	54.2±3.2Highest 39% above U.S.
	Canaan 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%	14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Canaan 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%	49.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	12%±8.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Canaan 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.	$89,632±$25kLowest 11% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S.	$469,400±$33kLowest 41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S.	$1,830±$307Highest 30% above U.S.
	Canaan 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.	$6,331Lowest 103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.1%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Canaan and Upton 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%	16%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.2%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Canaan 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	—
School district	Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton	Canaan School District · Regional School District 01
High school in town	Blackstone Valley	Housatonic Valley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Highest	9.4Lowest
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.