Compare towns
Hopedale vs Webster vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hopedale has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Webster | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,027Lowest |
17,748Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±5.2Highest 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Hopedale and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±6.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hopedale and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hopedale and Webster 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 11% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
| 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 17% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| 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 15% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±30.9 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #125 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hopedale | Webster | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hopedale Jr Sr High | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
11.6Highest |
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| 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.