Compare towns
Northfield vs Douglas vs Upton vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Douglas has the youngest population (median age 44).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Northfield | Douglas | Upton | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,872 |
9,207Highest |
8,189 |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
| Oakham and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 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+ | 25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10k about the MA average |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200 35% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Douglas and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 23% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 8% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Douglas 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Douglas | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Douglas High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
7.2Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.