Compare towns
Douglas vs Hadley vs Upton vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Hadley | Upton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
5,306Lowest |
8,189 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Hadley 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% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 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% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley 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% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Webster 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 |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below 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 |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Upton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Douglas and Hadley 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 |
$5,271 12% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Hadley | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Hopkins Academy | Blackstone Valley | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
7.3 |
11.2 |
11.6Highest |
| 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.