Compare towns
Devens vs Hampton vs Lancaster vs East Brookfield
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%).
East Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Devens | Hampton | Lancaster | East Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
1,647Lowest |
8,606Highest |
2,166 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.1±6.4Highest 34% above U.S. |
| East Brookfield and Hampton 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% |
15.3%±2.6 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| East Brookfield and Hampton 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% |
27% 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% |
2.7%±1.4 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±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$81,042±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$381,200±$30k 15% 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±$288 9% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,142±$33Lowest 19% below 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. |
$4,430 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.2%±39.5Lowest 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% |
7.1% 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% |
83.3% 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. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±3.1Lowest 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 | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.