Compare towns
Upton vs Boxford vs Chaplin 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
Boxford has the most expensive homes ($907k median).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
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.
| Measure | Upton | Boxford | Chaplin | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
8,208 |
2,070Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Boxford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Boxford and Upton 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% |
21.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Boxford and Chaplin 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% |
70.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Boxford 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. |
$200,871±$21kHighest 149% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Boxford 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. |
$907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 169% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.2%±60.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Boxford 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% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #34 of 282 in MA | — | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Boxford · Masconomet | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Masconomet Regional High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.2Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.