Compare towns
Heath vs Lancaster vs Upton vs Goshen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has the most affordable homes ($295k median).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Goshen has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Heath | Lancaster | Upton | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765Lowest |
8,606Highest |
8,189 |
915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
58±5.8Highest 45% above MA |
| Goshen and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
31.4%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.9%±3.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Goshen and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23kLowest 5% below MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$98,906±$10k 5% 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 | $295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$351,900±$25k 37% 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 | — | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
$869±$727Lowest 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,022 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
60%±66.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
88.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.1%±7.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Heath 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 | — | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school 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 |
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.