Compare towns
Washington vs Lancaster vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Washington | Lancaster | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,676Lowest |
8,606Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Washington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest 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+ | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,549±$16kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% 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 | $660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Washington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 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 | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| 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.