Compare towns
Oxford vs Townsend vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oxford has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Oxford | Townsend | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,385Highest |
9,100 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±2.8 5% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,862±$10kLowest about the MA average |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above 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 | $374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$142 33% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Townsend and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,622Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Oxford 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 | #245 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oxford | North Middlesex | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Oxford High | North Middlesex Regional | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.