Compare towns

Clinton vs Mansfield 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%).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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.

MeasureClintonMansfieldLancaster
People
Population
15,563
23,931Highest
8,606Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.8%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
38.6±2.7Lowest
4% below MA
41.4±1.3
4% above MA
43.1±4.9Highest
8% above MA
Lancaster and Mansfield 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%
22.4%±2.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.2%±4
MA: 19.4%
Mansfield 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%
15.4%±2
MA: 17.9%
19.9%±4.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
Lancaster and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
51.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
50.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±2Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.5%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
3%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Clinton and Mansfield 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
14% below MA
$125,273±$15k
21% above MA
$134,833±$27kHighest
30% above MA
Lancaster and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$387,300±$19kLowest
31% below MA
$603,500±$28kHighest
7% above MA
$519,100±$60k
8% below MA
Mansfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,402±$76Lowest
20% below MA
$1,803±$147
about the MA average
$2,338±$539Highest
33% above MA
Lancaster and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,654Lowest
22% below MA
$7,226
21% above MA
$7,235Highest
21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.3%±6.4
MA: 51.8%
38.2%±8.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
68.3%±36.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
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%Highest
MA: 10%
4.7%
MA: 10%
1.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
54.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.1%
MA: 62.5%
85.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1971
7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
about the MA average
33 minHighest
13% above MA
32 min
9% above MA
Work from home
14.2%±4.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20%±3.4
MA: 18.6%
33.6%±9.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #246 of 282 in MA #60 of 282 in MA #145 of 282 in MA
School district Clinton Mansfield Nashoba
High school in town Clinton Senior High Mansfield High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
11.1Lowest
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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.