Compare towns
Clinton vs Hardwick vs Webster vs Lancaster
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%).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
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 | Hardwick | Webster | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
2,684Lowest |
12,228 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7 4% below MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Hardwick 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Hardwick 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 |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 22% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7% MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #246 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Quabbin | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.