Compare towns
Devens vs Upton vs Wilbraham vs Russell
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%).
Wilbraham has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Russell has the most affordable homes ($303k 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 | Upton | Wilbraham | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
8,189 |
14,572Highest |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
-7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44.3±2.7Lowest 11% above MA |
47.7±7.6 19% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham and Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.9% MA: 47.3% |
30.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$122,051±$14k 17% above MA |
$108,750±$24kLowest 5% above 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 |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$416,000±$25k 26% below MA |
$303,300±$32kLowest 46% 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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,175±$241 33% below MA |
$1,013±$330 43% below MA |
| Devens and Wilbraham 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,658 11% above MA |
$5,104Lowest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Wilbraham 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3Lowest 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 | #88 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hampden-Wilbraham | — |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | Minnechaug Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
14.2Highest |
— |
| 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.