Compare towns
Worcester vs Athol vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Worcester | Athol | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
12,011 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
16.3% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Athol-Royalston | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | South High Community | Athol High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
11.6 |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.