Compare towns
Halifax vs Lancaster vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Halifax | Lancaster | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
8,606 |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Halifax and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 119% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Halifax | Nashoba | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.9 |
| 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.