Compare towns

Devens vs Hampton 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

Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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.

MeasureDevensHamptonLancaster
People
Population
1,723
1,647Lowest
8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.6±4.3
25% above U.S.
51.5±5.3Highest
32% above U.S.
43.1±4.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
Hampton and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
5.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
Hampton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14%±5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$189,250±$63kHighest
134% above U.S.
$109,167±$19kLowest
35% above U.S.
$134,833±$27k
67% above U.S.
Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$556,800±$96kHighest
67% above U.S.
$295,800±$27kLowest
11% below U.S.
$519,100±$60k
56% above U.S.
Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,500±$539
6% above U.S.
$1,285±$288Lowest
9% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
Lancaster and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,556
78% above U.S.
$4,364Lowest
40% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±64.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.5%±51.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
25.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1950Lowest
30 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
29 min
10% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
28.5%±11.5
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lancaster and Devens 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 — — #145 of 282 in MA
School district — Hampton School District Nashoba
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.