Compare towns
Clinton vs Ware vs Lancaster vs Boylston
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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Boylston has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
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 | Ware | Lancaster | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
6,369 |
8,606 |
4,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
| Boylston 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Boylston 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Ware 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 |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
| Boylston and Lancaster 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 |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average |
| Boylston 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 |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,032±$350 15% above MA |
| Lancaster and Boylston 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 |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$7,266Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Boylston 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | — | Nashoba | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | — | None in town | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.