Compare towns
Eastham vs Lancaster vs Upton vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Orleans has the most renters (33% 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 | Eastham | Lancaster | Upton | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,811 |
8,606Highest |
8,189 |
1,480Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5 51% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
64±8.9Highest 60% above MA |
| Orleans and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
7.8%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 40.9%±6 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
45.1%±14.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
51% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lancaster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$78,359±$16k 25% below MA |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,200±$63kHighest 30% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$582,000±$111k 4% above MA |
| Eastham and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,040±$876 41% below MA |
| Lancaster and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 17% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,427Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
24.1%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
67%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
19 min 35% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.9%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Orleans 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 | #17 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #158 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.