Compare towns
Bolton vs Salem vs Lancaster
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%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Lancaster has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Salem | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737Lowest |
44,795Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7 3% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
| 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 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% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Salem 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% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Salem 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 |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Salem | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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| 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.