Compare towns
Hampton vs Douglas vs Lancaster vs Colebrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Colebrook has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Hampton | Douglas | Lancaster | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647 |
9,207Highest |
8,606 |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,167±$19kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17k 38% 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 | $295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19k 3% 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 | $1,285±$288Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,211 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Douglas 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hampton School District | Douglas | Nashoba | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.