Compare towns
Upton vs Pelham vs Millis 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 the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Pelham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Pelham | Millis | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
1,335Lowest |
8,888Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
45±8.4 13% above MA |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Millis 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% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Millis 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 |
$113,750±$24kLowest 9% above MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Millis 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 |
$447,600±$33kLowest 20% below MA |
$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,205±$560 32% below MA |
$1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Millis 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 |
$7,472 25% above MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Pelham 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 | — | #63 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Pelham | Millis | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Millis High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.