Compare towns
Upton vs Strafford vs Millis 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 kids (23.2% under 18).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Strafford | Millis | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
4,306Lowest |
8,888Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
46.4±3Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8 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% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millis 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% |
40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Millis 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. |
$122,105±$22kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| 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 73% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| 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 33% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
$1,696±$279 20% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 169% above U.S. |
$6,086Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Lancaster 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Upton 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #63 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Strafford School District | 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 |
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.