Compare towns
Salisbury vs Lancaster vs Upton vs Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($764k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Canaan has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
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 | Salisbury | Lancaster | Upton | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,224 |
8,606Highest |
8,189 |
1,175Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.2±9.9 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
54.2±3.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Canaan and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
12%±8.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,256±$26k 54% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$89,632±$25kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $763,700±$121kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$469,400±$33kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,846±$736 31% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,830±$307 30% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,125Lowest 64% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,331 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.2%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.1%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.2%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Canaan 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 | #19 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Salisbury School District | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Canaan School District · Regional School District 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Housatonic Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Highest |
9.4Lowest |
| 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.