Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Douglas vs Upton vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Douglas has the youngest population (median age 44).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k 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 | Buzzards Bay | Douglas | Upton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,909Lowest |
9,207Highest |
8,189 |
3,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7 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+ | 32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6% MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below 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 | $454,500±$28k 19% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,014±$161 42% below MA |
| Douglas and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,092 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Douglas 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Douglas | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Douglas High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.