Compare towns
Lancaster vs Upton vs Gardner vs Sutton
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 most people working from home (33.6%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Upton | Gardner | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
8,189Lowest |
21,148Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| 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%±4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Sutton 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| 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 8% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| 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 33% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Gardner | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Gardner High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.6 |
| 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.