Compare towns
Lancaster vs Kittery vs Upton
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%).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Kittery | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
10,473Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Upton 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% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest 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%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery 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% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Lancaster 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. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster 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. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster 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. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Kittery 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. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Kittery Public Schools | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.