Compare towns
Lancaster vs Mendon vs Upton vs Worcester
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%).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Mendon | Upton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
6,325Lowest |
8,189 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Upton and Mendon 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% |
22.8%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
46.9% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
| 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 8% below MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Mendon and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$7,213 20% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon 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% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Mendon-Upton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| 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.