Compare towns
Upton vs New Castle 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
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 | New Castle | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189 |
827Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
62.8±6Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest 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% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Upton 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. |
$176,953±$29kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kLowest 67% above U.S. |
| New Castle 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±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 411% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 169% above U.S. |
$8,509Highest 173% above U.S. |
$7,235Lowest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±85.7Lowest 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% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest 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. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.1%±19.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| New Castle and Lancaster 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | New Castle School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | — |
| 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.