Compare towns
Lancaster vs Bethlehem vs Upton vs Devens
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%).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($411k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Bethlehem | Upton | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
3,423 |
8,189 |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest 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+ | 19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$108,929±$16kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Devens 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 56% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
| Upton and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$5,932 90% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,556Lowest 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Devens 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nashoba | Regional School District 14 | 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.