Compare towns
Clinton vs Jefferson vs Lancaster
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Jefferson has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Jefferson | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
1,013Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Clinton 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% |
33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
$296,700±$92kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 49% above U.S. |
$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #246 of 282 in MA | — | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 14 photos → | 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.