Compare towns
Devens vs Upton vs Union vs East Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
East Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Upton | Union | East Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
8,189Highest |
944Lowest |
2,166 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
52.1±6.4Highest 34% above U.S. |
| East Brookfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| East Brookfield and Union 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
27% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens and Union 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 134% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$81,042±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 67% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$381,200±$30k 15% above U.S. |
| 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 6% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | $1,142±$33 19% below U.S. |
| Devens and East Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 78% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$4,430Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.2%±39.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Union School District | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town | 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 |
U.S. 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.