Compare towns
Lancaster vs Suffield vs Bolton 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 renters (14.9% rent).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Bolton has the most expensive homes ($796k median).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Suffield | Bolton | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
15,702Highest |
5,737Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bolton and Upton 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% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Lancaster 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% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Suffield and Bolton 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. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
| Bolton and Upton 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. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,583±$1k 12% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Bolton 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. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest 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% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #28 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Suffield School District | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Nashoba Regional | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
12.0Highest |
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.