Compare towns
Lancaster vs Sutton vs Upton vs Windham
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%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Sutton | Upton | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest 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% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton 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. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton 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. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest 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% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% 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% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Nashoba | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
12.1 |
| 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.