Compare towns
Upton vs Chilmark vs Canton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Canton has the most renters (26.4% rent).
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 | Chilmark | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189 |
1,578Lowest |
24,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+13% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Chilmark 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark 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 MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Canton and Chilmark 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 50% above MA |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
| Chilmark and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
| Chilmark and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
32 minLowest 8% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 282 in MA | — | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Up-Island Regional | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.