Compare towns
Lancaster vs Millis vs Pepperell 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%).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
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 | Millis | Pepperell | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
8,888 |
11,663Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Pepperell 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% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis 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% MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Millis 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 |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Millis 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±$60k 8% below MA |
$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Millis 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 |
$1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Lancaster and Millis 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 |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$6,698Lowest 12% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Millis 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Millis | North Middlesex | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Millis High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.