Compare towns
Douglas vs Plainfield 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
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Upton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
616Lowest |
8,189 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Plainfield 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% |
19%±9.3Lowest 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 46% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 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 |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Douglas and Plainfield 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 |
$4,458 26% 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% |
40%±100 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% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 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 |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | — | Blackstone Valley | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 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.