Compare towns
Gray vs Upton vs Douglas vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Hampden has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Gray | Upton | Douglas | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
8,189 |
9,207Highest |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% 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 | $363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Hampden 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #46 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Douglas | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Blackstone Valley | Douglas High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
11.2 |
7.2Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.