Compare towns

Orange vs Douglas vs Upton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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.

MeasureOrangeDouglasUpton
People
Population
14,315Highest
9,207
8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±2.4
17% above U.S.
44±2.6Lowest
13% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
Upton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.9%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Orange and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Orange and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$142,325±$10kLowest
76% above U.S.
$152,267±$10k
89% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$491,500±$17k
48% above U.S.
$470,600±$29kLowest
41% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,172±$161Highest
54% above U.S.
$1,503±$697
6% above U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
Orange and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,988Highest
188% above U.S.
$6,338Lowest
103% above U.S.
$8,376
169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±12.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.9%±17.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
Orange and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
34 min
28% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
15.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #38 of 149 in CT #177 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA
School district Orange School District · Regional School District 05 Douglas Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town None in town Douglas High School Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.2Lowest
11.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.