Compare towns

Plainfield vs Upton vs Douglas

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Douglas has the most renters (16.2% rent).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldUptonDouglas
People
Population
2,522Lowest
8,189
9,207Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
44±2.6
13% above U.S.
Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Upton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Douglas and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$122,656±$13kLowest
52% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$152,267±$10k
89% 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
$442,400±$47kLowest
33% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$470,600±$29k
41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,503±$697
6% above U.S.
Plainfield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,904
153% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$6,338Lowest
103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
34 min
28% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±8.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±4.9
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 #19 of 120 in NH #46 of 282 in MA #177 of 282 in MA
School district Plainfield School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Douglas
High school in town None in town Blackstone Valley Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2Highest
7.2Lowest
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.