Compare towns
Wakefield vs Upton vs Alton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Wakefield | Upton | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Lowest |
8,189Highest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Alton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Upton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19k 41% above U.S. |
| Upton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$430,400±$37k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Wakefield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,183 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Wakefield 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.