Compare towns

Upton vs Wakefield vs Hopkinton

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).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

MeasureUptonWakefieldHopkinton
People
Population
8,189Lowest
27,793Highest
19,358
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.7%
MA: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
42.4±1.7
6% above MA
40.8±1.6Lowest
about the MA average
Upton and Wakefield 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%
20%±2.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
29.5%±3.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
Hopkinton and Upton 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%
19%±1.9
MA: 17.9%
12.5%±1.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Upton and Wakefield 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%
59.7%
MA: 47.3%
77.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±0.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.3%±1.1
MA: 7.9%
Wakefield and Hopkinton 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
$134,306±$14kLowest
29% above MA
$222,801±$22kHighest
114% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$576,700±$41kLowest
about the MA average
$723,500±$24k
29% above MA
$802,700±$39kHighest
43% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
$1,958±$102
11% above MA
$2,641±$361Highest
50% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,376
40% above MA
$7,779Lowest
30% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.8%±31
MA: 51.8%
43.7%±7.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
64.4%±14.9Highest
MA: 51.8%
Hopkinton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%
MA: 10%
4.9%Highest
MA: 10%
2.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
70.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1990Highest
26 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
22% above MA
33 minLowest
14% above MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
Work from home
22.8%±5.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
24.6%±3.1
MA: 18.6%
33.6%±4.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #46 of 282 in MA #179 of 282 in MA #5 of 282 in MA
School district Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield Hopkinton
High school in town Blackstone Valley Northeast Metro Regional Vocational Hopkinton High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2
10.7Lowest
14.4Highest
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.