Compare towns
Dummerston vs Wilbraham vs Upton vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Wilbraham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Dummerston | Wilbraham | Upton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
14,572Highest |
8,189 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Upton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Upton and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 | — | #88 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hampden-Wilbraham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.2Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.