Compare towns
Salisbury vs Lancaster vs Upton vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
8,606 |
8,189 |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Deerfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$414,900±$37kLowest 26% 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 | $1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| Lancaster and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.