Compare towns
Bartlett vs Upton vs Lancaster vs Albany
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Albany has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
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 | Bartlett | Upton | Lancaster | Albany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,281 |
8,189 |
8,606Highest |
790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.4±4.7Highest 48% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.5±9.7 20% above U.S. |
| Bartlett and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 7.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
11.3%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Albany and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$67,639±$19k 16% below U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,400±$78k 12% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$248,300±$68kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,676±$97 19% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,194±$112 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$2,554 18% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.5%±37.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.2%±97.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bartlett and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±18.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #74 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bartlett School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.