Compare towns
Douglas vs Upton vs Canton
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 most affordable homes ($471k median).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Upton | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
8,189Lowest |
24,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| 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%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Canton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Canton 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above 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±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
| Canton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 16% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Canton 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 | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Blackstone Valley | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.2 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.