Compare towns
Upton vs Needham vs Chilmark
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).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
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 | Needham | Chilmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189 |
32,459Highest |
1,578Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% 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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Upton 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$33kLowest 50% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
| Chilmark and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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 MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Chilmark 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Needham | Up-Island Regional |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.