Compare towns

Upton vs Wolfeboro 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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.

MeasureUptonWolfeboroLancaster
People
Population
8,189
6,571Lowest
8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
43.1±4.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±3.3Lowest
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%
34.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Lancaster and Wolfeboro 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.
$94,375±$22kLowest
17% above 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.
$546,500±$60k
64% above U.S.
$519,100±$60kLowest
56% above U.S.
Upton and Wolfeboro 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.
$1,103±$76
22% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$4,531Lowest
45% above U.S.
$7,235
132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
Work from home
22.8%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lancaster and Wolfeboro 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 #46 of 120 in NH #145 of 282 in MA
School district Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Governor Wentworth Regional School District Nashoba
High school in town Blackstone Valley Kingswood Regional High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Highest
11.1Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.