Compare towns
Egremont vs Lancaster vs Monterey
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Egremont has the most expensive homes ($665k median).
Lancaster has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Monterey has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Egremont | Lancaster | Monterey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,230 |
8,606Highest |
954Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±13.6 42% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
62.3±14Highest 56% above MA |
| Monterey and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.9%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.2%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±9.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
43.5%±13.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Monterey and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±4.1 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±4.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Monterey and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,458±$30kLowest about the MA average |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$152,353±$89kHighest 47% above MA |
| Monterey and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $664,900±$109kHighest 18% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$603,200±$57k 7% above MA |
| Egremont and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,349±$393Lowest 23% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,762±$128 about the MA average |
| Lancaster and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,647 39% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$2,858Lowest 52% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 8.5%±40.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±85.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
87.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 44 minHighest 50% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.6%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±16.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Egremont 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 | Southern Berkshire | 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.