Compare towns
Lancaster vs Hampton vs Upton vs Sutton
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%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Hampton | Upton | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
16,426Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton and Hampton 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. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
| Upton and Hampton 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. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,763Lowest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Hampton 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Upton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
11.2 |
12.6Highest |
| 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.