Compare towns
Upton vs Brookfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k 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 | Brookfield | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189 |
3,460Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Brookfield 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 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,014±$161 42% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,092Lowest 15% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Brookfield | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.