Compare towns
Douglas vs Shirley vs Uxbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Shirley has the most renters (22.6% rent).
Uxbridge has the youngest population (median age 41.7).
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 | Shirley | Uxbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
6,976Lowest |
14,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
41.7±2.8Lowest 4% above MA |
| Shirley and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Uxbridge 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% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley 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±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$124,725±$7k 20% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$441,100±$25k 22% below MA |
| Douglas and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,555±$265Highest 12% below MA |
| Uxbridge and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$5,836 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 16% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #183 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Ayer Shirley School District | Uxbridge |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Uxbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.