Compare towns
Temple vs Upton vs Lancaster vs Wilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Temple has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Wilton has the most renters (23% rent).
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 | Temple | Upton | Lancaster | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,363Lowest |
8,189 |
8,606Highest |
3,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.8±5.2 20% above U.S. |
| Temple and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$114,349±$21k 42% 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 | $401,000±$27k 21% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$381,500±$23kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$523 17% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,382±$70 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,983Lowest 124% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$7,612 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.1%±39.9 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 | 9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.2Lowest 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Nashoba | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.