Compare towns

Oakham vs Upton vs Townsend vs Granville

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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.

MeasureOakhamUptonTownsendGranville
People
Population
1,639Lowest
8,189
9,100Highest
1,846
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.3%
MA: +7.4%
-1.8%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49±2.3
23% above MA
46.4±4.8
16% above MA
40.9±3.3Lowest
about the MA average
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%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
21%±3.2
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%
20.7%±4.9
MA: 17.9%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
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%
53.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
35.5%
MA: 47.3%
34.7%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.1
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.4Highest
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
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% above MA
$121,528±$23k
17% 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
$576,700±$41kHighest
about the MA average
$433,200±$22k
23% below MA
$356,300±$25kLowest
37% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,174±$81
33% below MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
$1,469±$313Highest
17% 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
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
$6,031
about the MA average
$4,284
29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.8%±69.1
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31Highest
MA: 51.8%
50.6%±16.8
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%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.9%
MA: 10%
10.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%
MA: 62.5%
86.7%
MA: 62.5%
82%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
93.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
15 yrs newer than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1976
12 yrs newer than MA
1966Lowest
2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
39 min
32% above MA
35 minLowest
22% above MA
37 min
27% above MA
39 minHighest
34% above MA
Work from home
9.6%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2.8
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 — #46 of 282 in MA #136 of 282 in MA —
School district Quabbin Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton North Middlesex —
High school in town None in town Blackstone Valley North Middlesex Regional —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2Lowest
13.1Highest
—
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.