Compare towns
Clinton vs Gardner vs Lancaster vs Berlin
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%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($617k median).
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 | Gardner | Lancaster | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563 |
21,148Highest |
8,606 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Gardner 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| 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±$19k 31% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| 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±$76 20% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 22% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Gardner | Nashoba | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Gardner High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— | — |
| 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.