Compare towns
Spencer vs Douglas vs Upton vs Fairhaven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
Douglas has the youngest population (median age 44).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Fairhaven has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Spencer | Douglas | Upton | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,008 |
9,207 |
8,189Lowest |
15,903Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
48.5±3.4 21% above MA |
| Spencer and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161 39% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,118±$79 37% below MA |
| Douglas and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 27% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Douglas | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Fairhaven |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Douglas High School | Blackstone Valley | Fairhaven High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
7.2Lowest |
11.2 |
11.4Highest |
| 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.