Compare towns
Clinton vs Mapleton vs Greenfield 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 the youngest population (median age 38.6).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Greenfield has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Greenfield | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563 |
1,884Lowest |
17,664Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
44.6±2.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Greenfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Greenfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton and Mapleton 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 11% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$55,614±$7kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$263,100±$16k 21% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,107±$67 22% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 49% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,769 53% 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%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.2%±7.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Greenfield 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±2.4 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 | — | #257 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Greenfield | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | None in town | Greenfield High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.