Compare towns
Paxton vs Upton vs Lancaster vs Holden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paxton has the most homeowners (91.8%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Holden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
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 | Paxton | Upton | Lancaster | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
8,189 |
8,606 |
20,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
41.5±1.8Lowest 4% 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 | 17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Holden and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±1.8 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+ | 54.7% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8kLowest 29% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$141,923±$11k 37% above MA |
| Upton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29k 16% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$470,700±$13kLowest 16% below MA |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88 21% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,648±$214 6% below MA |
| Lancaster and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129 19% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$6,359Lowest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±7.2 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Paxton 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #57 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Nashoba | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Wachusett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| 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.