Compare towns
Danielson vs Lancaster vs Upton vs Willington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Willington has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Danielson | Lancaster | Upton | Willington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,209Lowest |
8,606Highest |
8,189 |
5,575 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
37.5±7.2 4% below 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 | 18.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±4.9Lowest 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+ | 13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Willington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.2%±6.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Willington and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$91,114±$12k 13% 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 | $224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$305,800±$48k 8% 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 | $1,235±$194 13% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,357±$116 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,009Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,419 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±17.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
70%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Willington and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
13% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.7 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #104 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Willington School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Blackstone Valley | 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.