Compare towns
Devens vs Russell vs Upton vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($282k 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 | Devens | Russell | Upton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
1,197Lowest |
8,189Highest |
1,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% MA: +7.4% |
-7.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
47.7±7.6 19% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
45.9±3.7Lowest 15% above MA |
| Devens and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.4% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$108,750±$24k 5% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$89,390±$6kLowest 14% below MA |
| Devens and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$303,300±$32k 46% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
| Upton and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
$1,013±$330 43% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,104±$71 37% below MA |
| Devens and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 7% below MA |
$5,104 15% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,522Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Upton 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 | — | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Gateway |
| High school in town | — | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.