Compare towns
Douglas vs Lawrence 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
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Lawrence | Upton | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
88,736Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% 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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Upton 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% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest 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% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8Highest 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. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 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. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
| Lawrence and Douglas 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. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence 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% |
17.6%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% |
28.1%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. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% 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% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Douglas | Lawrence | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Lawrence High School | Blackstone Valley | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
13.6Highest |
11.2 |
7.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.