Compare towns
Upton vs Monroe vs Canton 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 expensive homes ($577k median).
Monroe has the most homeowners (95.7%).
Canton has the most affordable homes ($395k 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 | Monroe | Canton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
18,949Highest |
10,144 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.5±2.2 12% above U.S. |
45.3±5.2 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Upton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Monroe and Upton 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% |
15.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Monroe 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 93% above U.S. |
$157,250±$12kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$117,991±$20kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Monroe 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±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$503,200±$31k 51% above U.S. |
$395,300±$24kLowest 19% 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. |
$994±$860 30% below U.S. |
$1,403±$358 about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 169% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,232Lowest 132% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.9%±28.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Canton 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% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Canton 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 | #48 of 149 in CT | #22 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Monroe School District | Canton School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Masuk High School | Canton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.8Highest |
9.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.