Compare towns
Lancaster vs Wellesley vs Upton vs Bolton
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 affordable homes ($519k median).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
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 | Wellesley | Upton | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
30,347Highest |
8,189 |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
41.2±1.7 3% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Wellesley 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% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$205,449±$31k 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
| Wellesley and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest 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% |
4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #6 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Wellesley | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Wellesley Sr High | Blackstone Valley | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Lowest |
11.2 |
12.0Highest |
| 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.