Compare towns
Lyme vs Upton vs Dorchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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 | Lyme | Upton | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
8,189Highest |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyme and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
— |
| Upton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Lyme and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school 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 |
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.