Compare towns
Clinton vs Stow 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%).
Stow has the most expensive homes ($730k 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 | Stow | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
7,165Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Stow 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Stow 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Stow 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% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Stow 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 |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Stow 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Stow 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Lancaster 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Nashoba | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.