Compare towns
Bristol vs Lancaster vs Upton vs Warren
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Warren has the most affordable homes ($396k 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 | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,220Highest |
8,606 |
8,189Lowest |
11,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
49±2.9Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Warren and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±2.2 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+ | 22.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warren and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,764±$8k 21% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$90,729±$12kLowest 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 | $485,000±$25k 46% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$395,700±$22kLowest 19% above 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 | $1,579±$118 12% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,363±$96 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,393Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,474 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.6%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±3.3 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 | #20 of 38 in RI | #145 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #31 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Bristol Warren | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Highlander · Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Mt. Hope High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Highlander Secondary Charter S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
— | 11.2Lowest |
15.5Highest |
| 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.