Compare towns
Upton vs Wakefield vs Douglas vs Millis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Millis has the shortest commute (31 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 | Upton | Wakefield | Douglas | Millis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
27,793Highest |
9,207 |
8,888 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$134,306±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
| Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,696±$279 4% below MA |
| Wakefield and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 40% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — | Douglas | Millis |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | — | Douglas High School | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.