Compare towns

Douglas vs Upton vs Wilbraham vs Webster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Wilbraham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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.

MeasureDouglasUptonWilbrahamWebster
People
Population
9,207
8,189Lowest
14,572
17,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44±2.6
10% above MA
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
44.3±2.7
11% above MA
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the MA average
Upton and Wilbraham 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%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
23.2%±3.7Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±2.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
15.4%±3.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±4.9
MA: 17.9%
23%±3.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.6%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
Wilbraham 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%
53.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
51.9%
MA: 47.3%
25.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.2%±1.8
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
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% above MA
$122,051±$14k
17% above MA
$72,895±$6kLowest
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
$576,700±$41kHighest
about the MA average
$416,000±$25k
26% below MA
$361,500±$12kLowest
36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,503±$697Highest
15% below MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
$1,175±$241
33% below MA
$1,228±$81
30% below MA
Douglas and Webster 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
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
$6,658
11% above MA
$3,999Lowest
33% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±17.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31
MA: 51.8%
53.1%±23.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±6.7
MA: 51.8%
Wilbraham and Upton 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%
4.6%
MA: 10%
12.7%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%
MA: 62.5%
86.7%
MA: 62.5%
88.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
59.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
1966
2 yrs newer than MA
1962Lowest
2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
16% above MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
27 minLowest
9% below MA
31 min
5% above MA
Work from home
20.9%±4.9
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.9%±3.1
MA: 18.6%
8%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
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 #46 of 282 in MA #88 of 282 in MA #271 of 282 in MA
School district Douglas Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Hampden-Wilbraham Webster
High school in town Douglas High School Blackstone Valley Minnechaug Regional High Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.2Lowest
11.2
14.2Highest
11.6
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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.