Compare towns
Clinton vs Deerfield vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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.
| Measure | Clinton | Deerfield | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
5,158Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Deerfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,781±$10kLowest 14% below MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
| Lancaster and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #246 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Deerfield · Frontier | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Frontier Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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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.