Compare towns
Oakham vs Townsend vs Upton vs Granville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Granville has the most affordable homes ($356k 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.
| Measure | Oakham | Townsend | Upton | Granville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
9,100Highest |
8,189 |
1,846 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
50.1±3.5Highest 25% above MA |
| Granville and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Granville and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$84,375±$14kLowest 19% below MA |
| Upton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$356,300±$25kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,292±$781 27% below MA |
| Townsend and Granville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,284 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
23.1%±51.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
93.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 min 32% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
35 minLowest 22% above MA |
39 minHighest 34% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.3%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Granville 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | North Middlesex | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.