Compare towns
Hancock vs Lancaster vs Warwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Warwick has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Hancock | Lancaster | Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 752Lowest |
8,606Highest |
776 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
0%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±11.1 18% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
51.4±7.3Highest 29% above MA |
| Warwick and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hancock and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$26k 7% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$93,333±$22kLowest 10% below MA |
| Lancaster and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,500±$21k 33% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$349,400±$34kLowest 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,268±$415Lowest 28% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,367±$163 22% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±36.3 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 25% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Warwick 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 | — |
| School district | Hancock | Nashoba | Warwick |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.