Compare towns
Lancaster vs Lynnfield vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Lynnfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Lynnfield | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
13,064Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
41.4±2.1Lowest 4% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Lynnfield 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lynnfield 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±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$175,265±$23kHighest 69% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Lynnfield 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±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Lynnfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
69.2%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynnfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Lynnfield 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 | #27 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Lynnfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Lynnfield High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.