Compare towns
Upton vs Carmel vs Hopkinton
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1981).
Carmel has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Carmel | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189 |
2,941Lowest |
19,358Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
46.4±4.5Highest 19% above U.S. |
40.8±1.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hopkinton and Upton 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% |
16.5%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Carmel 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% |
17.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
77.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hopkinton 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±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$82,188±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$222,801±$22kHighest 176% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$256,800±$37kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$802,700±$39kHighest 141% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,276±$187 10% below U.S. |
$2,641±$361Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 169% above U.S. |
$2,662Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.4%±14.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hopkinton and Carmel 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% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 282 in MA | #77 of 133 in ME | #5 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | Hopkinton |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Hopkinton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 14.4Highest |
| 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.