Compare towns
Lancaster vs Brewer vs Upton vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
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 | Brewer | Upton | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
9,652Highest |
8,189 |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7 6% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bolton and Upton 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% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer 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% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Bolton 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. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
| Bolton 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. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,583±$1k 12% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Bolton 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. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Brewer 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #46 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Brewer Public Schools | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | Blackstone Valley | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0Highest |
11.2Lowest |
12.0 |
| 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.