The Town FilesUpton, Massachusetts
Town in Worcester County · population 8,000 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $576,700
- Household income
- $155,508
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 46.4
Upton is a town of 8,000 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $576,700, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for families than 88% of Massachusetts towns, better for cycling than 81% of Massachusetts towns, more upscale than 79% of Massachusetts towns.
How Upton ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Upton is worth $576,700, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $155,508, which is more affordable than 84% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $948 a month. 86.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Upton | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $576,700 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $948 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $155,508 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 86.7% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Upton
| People | Upton | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.4 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.5% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.7% | — |
| Work from home | 22.8% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 35.4 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 93.9% |
Weather in Upton
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 16.6°F. About 50.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.3 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Upton since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 9, 1953 about 9.5 miles from the town center and killed 90. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 90 deaths and 1,248 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 23, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 28, 2020.
Severe weather in Worcester County since 1996
Worcester County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4780: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Worcester County
Worcester County had 351,476 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,641 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Upton itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Public schools in Upton
3 public schools with 2,308 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackstone Valley | 9-12 | 1,250 | 11.7 |
| Nipmuc Regional High | 9-12 | 559 | 12.4 |
| Memorial School | PK-4 | 499 | 13.9 |
Towns near Upton
- Upton, MA0.5 mi · 3,090 people · home $476,300
- Northbridge, MA4.2 mi · 16,335 people · home $448,600
- Milford, MA4.4 mi · 30,379 people · home $476,700
- Hopkinton, MA4.6 mi · 18,758 people · home $802,700
- Grafton, MA4.7 mi · 19,664 people · home $525,300
- Hopedale, MA4.7 mi · 3,939 people · home $424,800
- Milford, MA4.7 mi · 26,971 people · home $464,700
- Hopedale, MA5.2 mi · 6,017 people · home $466,100
Upton questions
Is Upton, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Upton scores better for retirees than 63% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 68%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.4).
How much does a house cost in Upton?
The median owner-occupied home in Upton is valued at $576,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $155,508, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $948 a month.
What is the weather like in Upton?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 16.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.4 inches of precipitation a year and 48.3 inches of snow.
Does Upton get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Upton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 9, 1953. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)