Compare towns
Clinton vs Dover vs Berlin 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
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Dover has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($617k median).
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 | Dover | Berlin | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563 |
33,364Highest |
3,378Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton and Dover 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 11% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654Lowest 49% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$7,116 128% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Berlin 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #64 of 120 in NH | #61 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Dover School District | Berlin-Boylston | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.7Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.