Compare towns
Oxford vs Upton vs Plainfield vs Charlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
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 | Upton | Plainfield | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,385 |
8,189Lowest |
15,141Highest |
13,435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±2.8 8% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43±4 11% above U.S. |
| Upton and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,862±$10k 29% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$117,587±$8k 46% above U.S. |
| Upton and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,900±$18k 13% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$427,500±$19k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$142 17% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,381±$415Highest about the U.S. average |
| Charlton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,622 48% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,617 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oxford | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Plainfield School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Oxford High | Blackstone Valley | Plainfield High School | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
11.2Highest |
10.3 |
9.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.