Compare towns
Douglas vs Sprague 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
Douglas has the youngest population (median age 44).
Sprague has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Sprague | Upton | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
2,962Lowest |
8,189 |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
48.5±10.7 25% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Sprague 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% |
17.1%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
19.9%±3.9 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% |
19.2%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% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Thompson 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. |
$92,850±$11kLowest 15% above 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. |
$273,500±$17kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,247±$144 12% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Sprague 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. |
$4,668 50% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Upton 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% |
8.1%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% |
67.2%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. |
1959Lowest 21 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. |
30 minLowest 12% above 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% |
5%±2.9Lowest 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 | #141 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Douglas | Sprague School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
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.