Compare towns
Hampden vs Lancaster vs Winthrop
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Lancaster has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
Winthrop has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Hampden | Lancaster | Winthrop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,896 |
8,606Highest |
6,191Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
43.6±5.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Winthrop and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.4%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winthrop and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$86,470±$4kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38k 9% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$294,800±$41kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$892±$319Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694 18% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,506Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±22.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%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 | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Winthrop 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | #145 of 282 in MA | #12 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | Nashoba | Winthrop Public Schools |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | None in town | Winthrop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
| 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.