Compare towns
Upton vs Brookline 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
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Brookline | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189 |
5,736Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster 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% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Lancaster 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% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kLowest 67% above U.S. |
| Brookline 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±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
| Upton and Brookline 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. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Lancaster 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,235Lowest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest 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 | 3.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Brookline School District | 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 |
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.