Compare towns
Upton vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
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 | Thompson | Millis | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
9,337Highest |
8,888 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.4±3 19% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%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% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 93% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below 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. |
$1,012±$344 28% below 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% 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% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% 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% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #63 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Thompson School District | Millis | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Millis High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
7.9Lowest |
10.7 |
— |
| 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.