Compare towns
Upton vs Worcester vs Sutton vs Lancaster
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).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Worcester | Sutton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
207,055Highest |
9,452 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% 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% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Lancaster 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 MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% 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±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Sutton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | South High Community | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
14.6Highest |
12.6 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.