Compare towns
Douglas vs Durham vs Upton vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Douglas | Durham | Upton | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
15,080Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Upton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 103% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Douglas | Oyster River Coop School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Oyster River High School | Blackstone Valley | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.3Highest |
11.2 |
7.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.