Compare towns

Easthampton vs Lancaster vs Sutton vs Upton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Easthampton has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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.

MeasureEasthamptonLancasterSuttonUpton
People
Population
16,086Highest
8,606
9,452
8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.8%
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46±2.6
15% above MA
43.1±4.9Lowest
8% above MA
44.3±2.5
11% above MA
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
Upton and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.5%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.2%±4
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±3.3
MA: 19.4%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.9%±3Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.9%±4.2
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±4.9
MA: 17.9%
Easthampton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
50.3%
MA: 47.3%
52.8%
MA: 47.3%
53.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
3%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Easthampton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,673±$7kLowest
31% below MA
$134,833±$27k
30% above MA
$147,125±$25k
42% above MA
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% above MA
Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$371,500±$15kLowest
34% below MA
$519,100±$60k
8% below MA
$523,100±$47k
7% below MA
$576,700±$41kHighest
about the MA average
Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,292±$70
27% below MA
$2,338±$539Highest
33% above MA
$1,190±$401
32% below MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,932Lowest
18% below MA
$7,235
21% above MA
$6,763
13% above MA
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±10.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
68.3%±36.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
47.5%±24.4
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31
MA: 51.8%
Lancaster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8%Highest
MA: 10%
1.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.8%
MA: 10%
3.2%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.1%
MA: 62.5%
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
86.7%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966Lowest
2 yrs newer than MA
1971
7 yrs newer than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
23% below MA
32 min
9% above MA
30 min
about the MA average
35 minHighest
22% above MA
Work from home
19%±3.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
33.6%±9.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±4.1
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3
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 #92 of 282 in MA #145 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA
School district Easthampton Nashoba Sutton Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town Easthampton High None in town Sutton High School Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
—
12.6Highest
11.2
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.