Compare towns
Jackson vs Lancaster vs Upton vs Sandwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Sandwich has the most affordable homes ($438k median).
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 | Jackson | Lancaster | Upton | Sandwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 897Lowest |
8,606Highest |
8,189 |
1,757 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5 56% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
63.6±2.8Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Sandwich and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
46.6%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sandwich and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,986±$46kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$140,694±$22k 74% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$437,700±$79kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,679±$1k 19% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,001 92% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,494Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±41.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.1%±16.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandwich and Lancaster 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 | Jackson School District | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| 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 |
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.