Compare towns

Upton vs Arrowsic vs Lancaster vs Millis

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 most kids (23.2% under 18).
Arrowsic has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k median).

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.

MeasureUptonArrowsicLancasterMillis
People
Population
8,189
597Lowest
8,606
8,888Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
50.3±8.7Highest
29% above U.S.
43.1±4.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
46.4±3
19% 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
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±7.8
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
18.4%±2.8Lowest
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+
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
31.8%±11.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.5%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Arrowsic and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
64.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Millis and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$155,508±$33k
93% above U.S.
$99,107±$27kLowest
23% above U.S.
$134,833±$27k
67% above U.S.
$155,996±$9kHighest
93% above U.S.
Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$576,700±$41k
73% above U.S.
$584,200±$150k
76% above U.S.
$519,100±$60kLowest
56% above U.S.
$603,500±$31kHighest
81% above U.S.
Millis and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,600±$412
13% above U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,696±$279
20% above U.S.
Lancaster and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,376
169% above U.S.
$3,521Lowest
13% above U.S.
$7,235
132% above U.S.
$9,344Highest
200% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.5%±16.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
Work from home
22.8%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±9
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.5%±4.2Lowest
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 #63 of 282 in MA
School district Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton — Nashoba Millis
High school in town Blackstone Valley — None in town Millis High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Highest
— —
10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.