Compare towns
Lancaster vs Readfield vs Upton vs Wayne
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%).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Readfield | Upton | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
2,651 |
8,189 |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Readfield 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% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% 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. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29k 9% 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. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$983±$554 30% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Readfield 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. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Wayne 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nashoba | RSU 38 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
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.