Compare towns
Lancaster vs Ogunquit vs Topsham 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Ogunquit | Topsham | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
1,379Lowest |
9,706Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
— | $1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Mt Ararat High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.