Compare towns
West Wareham vs Lancaster vs Upton vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Wareham has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
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 | West Wareham | Lancaster | Upton | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,257 |
8,606Highest |
8,189 |
1,118Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.6±13 44% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Charlemont and West Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±7.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Charlemont and West Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±4.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| West Wareham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,560±$15k 44% below MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,800±$104kLowest 59% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$305,500±$52k 46% below MA |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,023±$126 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,765 20% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,351Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
| West Wareham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.9%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
14.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.7%±13.8 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3Lowest 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.