Compare towns
Oxford vs Upton vs Ware vs Holbrook
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 youngest population (median age 42).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Holbrook has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
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 | Ware | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,385Highest |
8,189Lowest |
10,048 |
11,380 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
42.8±3.2 7% above MA |
| Upton and Ware 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±4.4 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Holbrook 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 about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$115,210±$14k 11% above MA |
| Upton and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,900±$18k 33% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$465,400±$21k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$142Highest 33% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,094±$423 38% below MA |
| Oxford and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,622 23% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,105 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±15.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oxford | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ware | Holbrook |
| High school in town | Oxford High | Blackstone Valley | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Holbrook Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.2 |
11.1 |
14.3Highest |
| 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.