Compare towns
Devens vs Hardwick vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Hardwick | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
2,684 |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Devens and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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 MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Devens 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 82% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| 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 15% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| 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 7% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Quabbin | 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.