Compare towns
Clinton vs Lancaster vs Worcester vs Easthampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
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 | Lancaster | Worcester | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563 |
8,606Lowest |
207,055Highest |
16,086 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7 4% below MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
| Easthampton 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% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$71,673±$7k 31% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$4,932 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
58.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #246 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Nashoba | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Easthampton |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | None in town | South High Community | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | 14.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.