What stands out worked out from the figures below

Upton has the oldest population (median age 70.4).

Columbia has the most kids (17.4% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Upton	Columbia
People
Population	91Lowest	683Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-12.9% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	70.4±0.4Highest 81% above U.S.	51.8±10.1Lowest 33% above U.S.
Kids under 18	0%±34.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Columbia and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	80.2%±49.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	29.9%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Upton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	14.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Columbia and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	—	$57,917±$13k 28% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	—	$196,400±$29k 41% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$792±$333 44% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$731Lowest 77% below U.S.	$2,009Highest 36% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	9.1%±95.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Columbia and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	91.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 9% below U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	13%±12Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Upton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.