Compare towns
Hampton vs Lancaster vs Scotland 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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Scotland has the most affordable homes ($294k median).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Scotland | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647 |
8,606Highest |
1,599 |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.7±5 15% 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%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Lancaster 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% |
18.6%±2.6Lowest 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% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Scotland and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$99,881±$12kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$294,100±$20kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,188±$468Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Colebrook 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. |
$6,175 98% above U.S. |
$6,211 99% 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% |
0%±75.7Lowest 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Hampton School District | Nashoba | Scotland School District | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.