Compare towns
Bolton vs Rye 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k 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 | Bolton | Rye | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737 |
5,611Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bolton and Lancaster 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. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kLowest 67% above U.S. |
| Bolton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49k 139% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Rye 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. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$7,235Lowest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Rye 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Lowest 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Rye School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
— | — |
| 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.