Compare towns
Dighton vs Upton vs Lancaster vs Taunton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Taunton has the most renters (37.9% rent).
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 | Dighton | Upton | Lancaster | Taunton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,193 |
8,189Lowest |
8,606 |
60,433Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
38.9±1.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
15%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 35.9% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
23.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Taunton and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $136,646±$19k 31% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$79,283±$7kLowest 24% below MA |
| Upton and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,900±$47k 11% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$422,800±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,405±$192 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,324±$86 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,452 8% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$4,344Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
13%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #85 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #253 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Nashoba | Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton |
| High school in town | Bristol County Agricultural High | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Taunton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
11.2Lowest |
— | 16.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
MA 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.