Compare towns

Brunswick 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

Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).

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.

MeasureBrunswickLancasterUpton
People
Population
22,336Highest
8,606
8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40±2.8Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% 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
17.2%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
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%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Brunswick and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.3%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,952±$6kLowest
7% below U.S.
$134,833±$27k
67% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% 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
$376,300±$15kLowest
13% above U.S.
$519,100±$60k
56% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% 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
$1,469±$99
4% above U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,756Lowest
52% above U.S.
$7,235
132% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±8.8
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
11% below U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
19.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3
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 #30 of 133 in ME #145 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA
School district Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 Nashoba Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town Brunswick High School None in town Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9Lowest
—
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.