Compare towns
Upton vs Colebrook 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
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Colebrook | Chaplin | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
1,494Lowest |
2,070 |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Colebrook 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% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% 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% |
5.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Colebrook 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 93% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| 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 73% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| 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 33% below U.S. |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,211 99% 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% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%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. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 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 | — | — | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Colebrook School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 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.