Compare towns
Bristol vs Lancaster vs Upton vs Enfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most renters (35.1% rent).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Enfield has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Bristol | Lancaster | Upton | Enfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
8,606 |
8,189Lowest |
41,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
40.7±1.9 5% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$90,404±$5k 12% above 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 | $277,800±$8k 17% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$252,900±$7kLowest 24% 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 | $1,338±$45 5% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,574±$83 11% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 75% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,360Lowest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.5 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 | #115 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #123 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Capitol Region Education Council · Enfield School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Enfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.