Compare towns
Upton vs Stoneham vs Lancaster vs Sutton
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).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Stoneham | Lancaster | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
23,355Highest |
8,606 |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Stoneham 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% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Stoneham and Sutton 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 50% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton 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 |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Lancaster and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Stoneham | Nashoba | Sutton |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Stoneham High | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
10.7Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.