Compare towns
Lancaster vs Upton vs Windham vs Pepperell
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%).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
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 | Windham | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
8,189Lowest |
16,038Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster 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% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 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% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Windham 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. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Windham and Lancaster 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. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Windham School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.