Compare towns
Wrentham vs Shirley vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wrentham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% 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.
| Measure | Wrentham | Shirley | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,297Highest |
6,976Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
44.3±3.4Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Wrentham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Wrentham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,676±$17k 46% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $654,900±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,184±$628 33% below MA |
$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Shirley and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,373 23% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Wrentham 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 | #49 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Wrentham | Ayer Shirley School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | King Philip Regional High | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 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.