Compare towns
Lancaster vs Rye vs Mendon 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 most affordable homes ($519k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Rye | Mendon | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
5,611Lowest |
6,325 |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Mendon 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon 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. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33kLowest 64% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37k 85% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mendon 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. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$7,213Lowest 131% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #210 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Rye School District | Mendon-Upton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.