Compare towns
Upton vs Reading vs Harvard vs Milford
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 oldest population (median age 46.4).
Reading has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Reading | Harvard | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
25,612 |
6,927Lowest |
30,431Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Harvard 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Milford and Harvard 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 |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$96,365±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$476,700±$12kLowest 15% below MA |
| Harvard and Reading 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 |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,909±$137 8% above MA |
| Reading and Milford 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 |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,869Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Milford 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
7.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #213 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Reading | Harvard | Milford |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Reading Memorial High | The Bromfield High School | Milford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.1Highest |
11.0Lowest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.