Compare towns
Lancaster vs Acton vs Upton vs Leominster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Leominster has the most affordable homes ($380k 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 | Lancaster | Acton | Upton | Leominster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
24,155 |
8,189Lowest |
43,909Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.3±2.2 8% above MA |
| Upton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±1.9 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+ | 50.3% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
33.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$83,816±$7kLowest 19% below MA |
| Acton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$380,400±$14kLowest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,354±$50 23% below MA |
| Lancaster and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$5,256Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±5.6 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 | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #233 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Acton-Boxborough | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Leominster |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Blackstone Valley | Leominster High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.2 |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.