Compare towns
Lancaster vs Ossipee vs Upton vs Leominster
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 most people working from home (33.6%).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Leominster has the most renters (37.7% rent).
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 | Ossipee | Upton | Leominster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
4,521Lowest |
8,189 |
43,909Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
43.3±2.2 11% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Ossipee 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% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Leominster 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 67% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$83,816±$7kLowest 4% 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. |
$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$380,400±$14k 14% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,601±$245 13% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,354±$50 4% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Ossipee 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. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,256 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA | #233 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Leominster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Leominster High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.