Compare towns
Upton vs Hampton Beach vs Sturbridge 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 highest household income ($156k).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k 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 | Hampton Beach | Sturbridge | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
2,605Lowest |
9,960Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge 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 93% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above 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. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,115Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Hampton Beach 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.