Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Devens 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

Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).

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.

MeasureBrooklynDevensLancaster
People
Population
8,517
1,723Lowest
8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-7.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±2.5
17% above U.S.
48.6±4.3Highest
25% above U.S.
43.1±4.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
Devens and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
Brooklyn and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
14%±5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lancaster and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±4.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brooklyn and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$96,207±$15kLowest
19% above U.S.
$189,250±$63kHighest
134% above U.S.
$134,833±$27k
67% above U.S.
Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,200±$28kLowest
5% below U.S.
$556,800±$96kHighest
67% above U.S.
$519,100±$60k
56% above U.S.
Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,500±$539
6% above U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
Lancaster and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538Lowest
45% above U.S.
$5,556
78% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
85.4%±64.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
25.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1950Lowest
30 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
10.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.5%±11.5
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lancaster and Devens 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 #113 of 149 in CT — #145 of 282 in MA
School district Brooklyn School District — Nashoba
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.