Compare towns
Douglas vs Exeter vs Upton vs Freetown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Freetown has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Exeter | Upton | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
16,151Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Upton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.1 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%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$143,884±$15k 78% 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. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$518,200±$30k 56% above U.S. |
| Upton and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,891±$363Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Freetown and Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$5,188Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Exeter High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.2 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 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.