Compare towns
Halifax vs Lancaster vs Upton vs Berkley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Berkley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Halifax | Lancaster | Upton | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
8,606Highest |
8,189 |
6,829Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
| Upton and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$144,205±$49k 39% above MA |
| Upton and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$511,200±$45k 9% 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 | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
— |
| Lancaster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 14% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,018Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 2.6% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3Lowest 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Berkley |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 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.