Compare towns
Canterbury vs Upton vs Preston vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Canterbury | Upton | Preston | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,124 |
8,189Highest |
4,821 |
4,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
46.2±7 19% above U.S. |
44.5±5.2Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Preston and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,198±$6k 28% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$92,708±$12kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Upton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$315,700±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Preston and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,140 33% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
$4,044Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±75.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Canterbury 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 | #125 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #93 of 149 in CT | #102 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Preston School District | Lisbon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | 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.