Compare towns
Upton vs Brewster vs Hingham vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Brewster has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k 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.
| Measure | Upton | Brewster | Hingham | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
10,420 |
24,283Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham 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 MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5% MA: 47.3% |
55.5% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lancaster and Hingham 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 50% above MA |
$103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Hingham 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 about the MA average |
$707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
| Hingham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 40% above MA |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Hingham 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 | #160 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Brewster | Hingham | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
— |
| 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.