Compare towns
Amherst vs Lancaster vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most homeowners (91.9%).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Amherst | Lancaster | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
8,606 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amherst and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kLowest 67% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$7,235Lowest 132% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Amherst 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| 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.