Compare towns
Nelson vs Upton vs Douglas vs South Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Douglas has the most renters (16.2% rent).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Nelson | Upton | Douglas | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 648Lowest |
8,189 |
9,207Highest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
| Upton and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44k 89% above U.S. |
| Upton and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Douglas | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
7.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.