Compare towns
Heath vs Lancaster vs Cummington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has the most homeowners (88.3%).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Cummington has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
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 | Heath | Lancaster | Cummington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765Lowest |
8,606Highest |
902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
55.1±6.7Highest 38% above MA |
| Cummington and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
32.2%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Cummington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
55.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±7.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cummington and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23kLowest 5% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$104,167±$32k about the MA average |
| Lancaster and Cummington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$300,600±$32k 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$825±$365Lowest 53% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$3,875Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
22.8%±27.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
39 minHighest 34% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.9%±10Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Heath 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 | — | Nashoba | — |
| High school 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.