Compare towns
Devens vs Lancaster vs Newfields 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
Devens has the most renters (20.7% rent).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
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.
| Measure | Devens | Lancaster | Newfields | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
8,606Highest |
2,023 |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Devens and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 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+ | 14%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest 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+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63k 134% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kLowest 67% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556Lowest 78% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Devens 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 |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Newfields School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| 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.