Compare towns
Upton vs Hamden vs Plainfield
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 expensive homes ($577k median).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.
| Measure | Upton | Hamden | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
61,045Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
38.7±0.9 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Plainfield 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% |
18.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Hamden 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% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$98,306±$7k 22% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$298,200±$9k 10% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,746±$50Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,784 150% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Hamden 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Hamden 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Hamden High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
13.5Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.