Compare towns
Upton vs Ellsworth vs Sutton 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).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Ellsworth | Sutton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
8,657 |
9,452Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ellsworth 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth and Sutton 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. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton 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. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton 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. |
$1,017±$195 28% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Ellsworth 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 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 | #63 of 133 in ME | #105 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ellsworth Public Schools | Sutton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Ellsworth High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.7Highest |
12.6 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.