Compare towns
Clinton vs Gray vs Lancaster vs Easthampton
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 the youngest population (median age 38.6).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Easthampton has the shortest commute (22 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 | Clinton | Gray | Lancaster | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563 |
8,429Lowest |
8,606 |
16,086Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
46±2.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Easthampton and Gray 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% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Gray 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% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Easthampton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton and Easthampton 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 11% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$71,673±$7kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$371,500±$15k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,292±$70Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 49% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,932 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Gray 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% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #246 of 282 in MA | #10 of 133 in ME | #145 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Nashoba | Easthampton |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.5 |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.