Compare towns
Clinton vs Hampton vs Lancaster vs Bolton
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 most renters (45.3% rent).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Bolton has the most expensive homes ($796k 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 | Hampton | Lancaster | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
1,647Lowest |
8,606 |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7 6% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bolton and Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton and Bolton 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. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
$1,285±$288Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,583±$1k 12% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 49% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Hampton 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton and Lancaster 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Hampton School District | Nashoba | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | None in town | None in town | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 12.0Lowest |
| 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.