Compare towns
Bolton vs Epping 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
Bolton has the most expensive homes ($796k median).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (32 min average).
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 | Bolton | Epping | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737Lowest |
7,430 |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Epping and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Bolton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton and Lancaster 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 | #28 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Epping School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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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.