Compare towns
Douglas vs Meredith vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the youngest population (median age 44).
Meredith has the shortest commute (26 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 | Meredith | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Highest |
6,758Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Meredith 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. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% 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±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Meredith 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. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Meredith 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% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Upton 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.1 |
11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.