Compare towns
Ayer vs Upton vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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 | Ayer | Upton | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
8,189Lowest |
9,207Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
| Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Douglas |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Blackstone Valley | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.2 |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.