Compare towns
Easthampton vs Lancaster vs Upton vs Southampton
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%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Southampton has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Easthampton | Lancaster | Upton | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086Highest |
8,606 |
8,189 |
6,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 15% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.4±3.5 9% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4 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+ | 23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Southampton 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Southampton 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$123,125±$23k 18% above 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 | $371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$452,300±$25k 20% 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 | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Lowest 18% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,470 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
90.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
22 min 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Southampton |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| 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.