Compare towns
Lancaster vs Truro vs Upton vs Devens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Truro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.5%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Truro | Upton | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
1,708Lowest |
8,189 |
1,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+22.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
64.1±5.8Highest 60% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
45.6%±10.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% MA: 47.3% |
57.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±5.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Truro 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 30% above MA |
$118,984±$72kLowest 14% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
| Devens 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±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$888,200±$117kHighest 58% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
— | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
| Lancaster and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$3,997Lowest 33% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Truro and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
84.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
35.2%±22.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Truro 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nashoba | Truro | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school 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 |
MA 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.