Compare towns

Upton vs Worcester vs Ripton

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 kids (23.2% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Ripton 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.

MeasureUptonWorcesterRipton
People
Population
8,189Highest
831
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±4.8Lowest
19% above U.S.
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
Ripton and Worcester 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%
12.8%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton 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%
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
Upton and Ripton 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.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,023±$136Highest
28% below U.S.
—
Worcester 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.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton 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%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
22.8%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Upton 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 — —
School district Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
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 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.