Compare towns
Upton vs Norfolk vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Norfolk has the highest household income ($201k).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (32 min average).
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 | Norfolk | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
11,673Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| 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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Norfolk 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 50% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
| Norfolk 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 about the MA average |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,019±$598 15% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 40% above MA |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.2% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Norfolk 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 | #123 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | King Philip · Millis | 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 Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.