Compare towns
Leicester vs Oxford vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leicester has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Leicester | Oxford | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,113 |
13,385Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.5 6% above MA |
42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,173±$9k about the MA average |
$103,862±$10kLowest about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$23k 27% below MA |
$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$258Highest 16% below MA |
$1,177±$142 33% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Leicester and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,452Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,622 23% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±14.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Oxford 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 | #222 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Leicester | Oxford | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Leicester High | Oxford High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
10.3Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.