Compare towns
Hampton vs Lancaster vs Douglas
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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Lancaster | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,647Lowest |
8,606 |
9,207Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Douglas 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest 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% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,167±$19kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% 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. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above 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. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampton School District | Nashoba | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.2 |
| 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.