Compare towns
Lancaster vs Northbridge vs Ogunquit vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Northbridge | Ogunquit | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
16,458Highest |
1,379Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Ogunquit 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 67% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| 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 56% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
— | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | — | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Northbridge | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | — | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.