Compare towns
Brimfield vs Lancaster vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brimfield has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Brimfield | Lancaster | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,705Lowest |
8,606Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.3 9% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±6 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Brimfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Brimfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$22kLowest 7% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,100±$27kLowest 31% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $886±$365Lowest 50% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,128Lowest 14% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±25.4 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #108 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brimfield | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.