Compare towns
Bolton vs Lancaster vs Norton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Lancaster has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
Norton has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Bolton | Lancaster | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737Lowest |
8,606 |
19,240Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7 3% above MA |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Lancaster and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Norton 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 MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,911±$375 8% above MA |
| Lancaster and Norton 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 67% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$5,929Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Nashoba | Norton |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | None in town | Norton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.