Compare towns
Upton vs Eastham vs Acton vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).
Acton has the most renters (25.1% rent).
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 | Eastham | Acton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
5,811Lowest |
24,155Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5% MA: 47.3% |
54.4% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton 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 50% above MA |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Acton 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 |
$732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Acton and Eastham 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 |
$1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Acton 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 |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Lancaster 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 | #17 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Eastham · Nauset | Acton-Boxborough | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Nauset Regional High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
9.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| 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.