Compare towns

Upton vs Grafton vs Millbury

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 highest household income ($156k).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Millbury has the most affordable homes ($450k 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.

MeasureUptonGraftonMillbury
People
Population
8,189Lowest
19,902Highest
13,961
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%
MA: +7.4%
+10.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
41.1±1.6Lowest
about the MA average
42.6±3.1
7% above MA
Upton and Millbury 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%
22.5%±2.7
MA: 19.4%
20.9%±3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Upton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.5%±2.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.2%±2.7
MA: 17.9%
Upton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.5%
MA: 47.3%
55.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
36.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
Grafton and Millbury 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
50% above MA
$131,484±$11k
26% above MA
$118,790±$13kLowest
14% above MA
Upton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$576,700±$41kHighest
about the MA average
$525,300±$37k
7% below MA
$450,100±$19kLowest
20% below MA
Upton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
$1,504±$169
15% below MA
$1,623±$232Highest
8% below MA
Millbury and Grafton 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
$7,117
19% above MA
$5,406Lowest
10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.8%±31Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.1%±12.5
MA: 51.8%
43.5%±12.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Upton and Grafton 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%
6.3%Highest
MA: 10%
5%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
75.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1977
13 yrs newer than MA
1965Lowest
1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
22% above MA
33 min
13% above MA
29 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
22.8%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.4%±2.6
MA: 18.6%
14.8%±3.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Upton and Grafton 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 #67 of 282 in MA #202 of 282 in MA
School district Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Grafton Millbury
High school in town Blackstone Valley Grafton High School Millbury Junior/Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Lowest
12.9Highest
11.3
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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.