Compare towns
Douglas vs Fairhaven vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the youngest population (median age 44).
Fairhaven has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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 | Douglas | Fairhaven | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
15,903Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Fairhaven and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Fairhaven 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% MA: 47.3% |
32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Fairhaven 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 46% above MA |
$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| 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 16% below MA |
$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,118±$79 37% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Douglas and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 6% above MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #126 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Fairhaven | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Fairhaven High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.4Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.