Compare towns
Dennis vs Lancaster vs Dennis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dennis has the most renters (21.1% rent).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Dennis has the most expensive homes ($945k 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 | Dennis | Lancaster | Dennis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,868Highest |
8,606 |
2,424Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.5±2 49% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
63.3±6.5Highest 58% above MA |
| Dennis and Dennis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±7.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Dennis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
46.5%±6.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dennis and Dennis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
56.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dennis and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,154±$10kLowest 15% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$109,882±$12k 6% above MA |
| Lancaster and Dennis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,100±$28k 12% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$944,500±$93kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$260 19% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,199±$299Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,877Lowest 52% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$3,894 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±9.9 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
28.4%±21.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Dennis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
16 minLowest 46% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±13.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Dennis 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 | #238 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #238 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dennis-Yarmouth | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.