Compare towns
Douglas vs Epping 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
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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.
| Measure | Douglas | Epping | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Highest |
7,430Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Epping and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Epping 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Epping School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
9.3Highest |
— |
| 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.