Compare towns
Woolwich vs Lancaster vs Upton vs Arrowsic
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Woolwich has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Arrowsic has the most expensive homes ($584k median).
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 | Woolwich | Lancaster | Upton | Arrowsic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,158 |
8,606Highest |
8,189 |
597Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 55.8±5.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
50.3±8.7 29% above U.S. |
| Woolwich and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±7.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.8%±11.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Woolwich and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
64.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Arrowsic and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,175±$26k 27% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$99,107±$27kLowest 23% 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 | $254,500±$59kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$584,200±$150kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Arrowsic and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,600±$412 13% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,433Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,521 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.9%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±9 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 | #92 of 133 in ME | #145 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.