Compare towns
Upton vs Wilbraham vs Plainfield 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 highest household income ($156k).
Wilbraham has the most homeowners (88.8%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Wilbraham | Plainfield | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
14,572 |
15,141Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Upton and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Wilbraham 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 93% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster 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. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Wilbraham 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest 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 | #88 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hampden-Wilbraham | Plainfield School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Minnechaug Regional High | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
14.2Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.