Compare towns

Marshfield vs Upton vs Douglas

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marshfield has the most expensive homes ($680k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).

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.

MeasureMarshfieldUptonDouglas
People
Population
25,879Highest
8,189Lowest
9,207
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±2.6
15% above MA
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
44±2.6Lowest
10% above MA
Upton and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.6%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.2%±3.8
MA: 19.4%
Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.2%±2
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±4.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Upton and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.4%
MA: 47.3%
53.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
41.7%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.1
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
Douglas and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,986±$8kLowest
21% above MA
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% above MA
$152,267±$10k
46% above 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
$680,300±$27kHighest
21% above MA
$576,700±$41k
about the MA average
$470,600±$29kLowest
16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,772±$123Highest
about the MA average
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
$1,503±$697
15% below MA
Marshfield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,656
11% above MA
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
$6,338Lowest
6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.1%±10.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31
MA: 51.8%
33.9%±17.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Marshfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%Highest
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
83.8%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
4 yrs newer than MA
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
19% above MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
34 minLowest
16% above MA
Work from home
24.8%±4.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
20.9%±4.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Marshfield and Upton 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 #54 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA #177 of 282 in MA
School district Marshfield Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Douglas
High school in town Marshfield High Blackstone Valley Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.0
11.2Highest
7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.