Compare towns

Douglas vs Putnam 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

Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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.

MeasureDouglasPutnamUpton
People
Population
9,207Highest
7,120Lowest
8,189
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44±2.6
13% above U.S.
41.2±5.1Lowest
6% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.2%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±4.3Lowest
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%
17%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Upton and Putnam 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%
18.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Douglas and Putnam 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.
$65,511±$7kLowest
19% below 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±$29k
41% above U.S.
$245,100±$13kLowest
26% below U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,503±$697Highest
6% above U.S.
$1,147±$43
19% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
Douglas and Putnam 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.
$3,564Lowest
14% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±17.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.2%±12.1
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton and Putnam 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%
11.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
28% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
20.9%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
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 #128 of 149 in CT #46 of 282 in MA
School district Douglas — Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town Douglas High School — Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school
7.2Lowest
—
11.2Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.