Compare towns
Washington vs Georgetown vs Upton vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Georgetown has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
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 | Washington | Georgetown | Upton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,676Lowest |
8,474Highest |
8,189 |
3,825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 28% above U.S. |
42.8±3.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
54±3.4Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Chester and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,549±$16kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$151,595±$23k 88% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$109,191±$18k 35% above U.S. |
| Upton and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$651,200±$23k 96% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$442,200±$25kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Washington and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
$2,223±$506Highest 57% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,549±$247 10% above U.S. |
| Georgetown and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$7,272 133% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,364 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chester and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Georgetown 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #140 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Georgetown | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | Georgetown High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
9.3 |
11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.