Compare towns
Lancaster vs Maynard vs Stow 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 youngest population (median age 43.1).
Maynard has the most renters (25% rent).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
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 | Maynard | Stow | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
10,712Highest |
7,165Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Stow 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% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 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% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Stow and Maynard 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 30% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Stow 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 |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Lancaster and Maynard 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 |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Stow 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% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Maynard | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Maynard High | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.