Compare towns
Hampton vs Lancaster vs Quinebaug vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Quinebaug has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
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.
| Measure | Hampton | Lancaster | Quinebaug | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647 |
8,606Highest |
1,193Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Quinebaug and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$105,181±$36kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
— | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364 40% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Quinebaug 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampton School District | Nashoba | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.