Compare towns
Clinton vs Lancaster vs Berlin vs Webster
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%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($617k median).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Lancaster | Berlin | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563 |
8,606 |
3,378Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Berlin and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Webster 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 |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below 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 |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below 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 |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Nashoba | Berlin-Boylston | Webster |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | None in town | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 11.6Lowest |
| 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.