Compare towns
Effingham vs Lancaster vs Danbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Danbury has the most affordable homes ($241k 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 | Effingham | Lancaster | Danbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912 |
8,606Highest |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.4±5.8Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Danbury and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Effingham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danbury and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,607±$14k 5% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$71,685±$11kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,700±$30k 3% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$240,700±$35kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,090±$121Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,281±$390 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,760Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±36.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 19% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Nashoba | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None 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.