Compare towns
Heath 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
Heath has the most affordable homes ($295k median).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Warwick has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765Lowest |
8,606Highest |
776 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
0%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
51.4±7.3 29% above MA |
| Heath and Warwick 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% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest 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% |
23.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Heath and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$93,333±$22kLowest 10% below MA |
| Lancaster and Heath 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 |
$349,400±$34k 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,367±$163Lowest 22% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,380Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest 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% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9Lowest 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 | Warwick |
| High school 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.