Compare towns
Lancaster vs Chaplin 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
Lancaster has the shortest commute (32 min average).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Bolton has the most expensive homes ($796k 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 | Chaplin | Upton | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
2,070Lowest |
8,189 |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%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. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Upton and Chaplin 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% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest 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% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin 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% |
25.4%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% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin 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. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above 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. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% 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. |
$1,473±$275 4% above 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. |
$4,524Lowest 45% 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% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%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% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr 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 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above 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% |
18.1%±10Lowest 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Blackstone Valley | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
11.2 |
12.0Highest |
| 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.