Compare towns
Hopedale vs Brooklyn vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hopedale has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Hopedale | Brooklyn | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,027Lowest |
8,517 |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±5.2 14% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hopedale and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hopedale and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hopedale and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,722±$19k 43% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,100±$28k 40% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,788±$223 27% above U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868 120% above U.S. |
$4,538Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±30.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #125 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hopedale | Brooklyn School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hopedale Jr Sr High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
— | — |
| 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.