Compare towns
Upton vs Mapleton vs Gorham 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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Mapleton | Gorham | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
1,884Lowest |
18,300Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
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%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% 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±$599 33% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 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% |
8.9%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% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Gorham Public Schools | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
— |
| 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.