Compare towns
Lancaster vs Nahant 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%).
Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Nahant | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
3,325Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Nahant 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 30% above MA |
$112,762±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above 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±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Lancaster and Nahant 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 |
$6,615Lowest 10% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Nahant 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than 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% |
18.7%±5.7Lowest 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 | #129 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Nahant | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.