Compare towns
Carver vs Lancaster vs Southwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carver has the most homeowners (88.7%).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Southwick has the shortest commute (29 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 | Carver | Lancaster | Southwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,712Highest |
8,606Lowest |
9,217 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 15% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
46.8±1.8Highest 17% above MA |
| Southwick and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Carver and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Southwick and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$23kLowest 12% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$120,462±$16k 16% above MA |
| Lancaster and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,200±$21k 23% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$397,500±$27kLowest 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,827±$345 4% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,332±$72Lowest 24% below MA |
| Lancaster and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,455 8% above MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$5,331Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #237 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #211 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carver | Nashoba | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District |
| High school in town | Carver Middle/High School | None in town | Southwick Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 11.0Highest |
| 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.