Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Plainfield vs Upton vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Lunenburg | Plainfield | Upton | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,902 |
15,141Highest |
8,189 |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Upton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Upton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401 105% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Shirley 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 | #87 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Plainfield School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Plainfield High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.2 |
— |
| 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.