Compare towns
Hampton 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
Hampton has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,647Lowest |
8,606 |
9,337Highest |
| 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. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Thompson 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Hampton 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364 40% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5Lowest 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 | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Hampton School District | 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.