Compare towns

Sutton vs Upton vs Arrowsic vs Lancaster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Arrowsic has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).

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.

MeasureSuttonUptonArrowsicLancaster
People
Population
9,452Highest
8,189
597Lowest
8,606
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
50.3±8.7Highest
29% above U.S.
43.1±4.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
Arrowsic and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±7.8
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
31.8%±11.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Arrowsic and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
64.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Sutton and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$147,125±$25k
82% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$99,107±$27kLowest
23% above U.S.
$134,833±$27k
67% above U.S.
Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$523,100±$47k
57% above U.S.
$576,700±$41k
73% above U.S.
$584,200±$150kHighest
76% above U.S.
$519,100±$60kLowest
56% above U.S.
Arrowsic and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,600±$412
13% above U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
Lancaster and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,763
117% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$3,521Lowest
13% above U.S.
$7,235
132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #105 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA — #145 of 282 in MA
School district Sutton Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton — Nashoba
High school in town Sutton High School Blackstone Valley — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6Highest
11.2Lowest
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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.