Compare towns
Clinton vs Erving vs Lancaster vs Webster
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%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Webster has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
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 | Erving | Lancaster | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563 |
1,703Lowest |
8,606 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
43.3±2.4Highest 8% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Erving 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Lancaster 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% |
22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Erving 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
$77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$1,163±$213Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 22% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #246 of 282 in MA | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Erving | Nashoba | Webster |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | None in town | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.