Compare towns
Upton vs Putney vs Strafford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Putney | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189Highest |
2,622 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Upton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.