Compare towns
Upton vs Meredith 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).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Meredith | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189 |
6,758Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Meredith 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. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% 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. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% 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. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest 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% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.