Compare towns
Lancaster vs Middlesex vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Lancaster | Middlesex | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,230Highest |
1,943 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$221 27% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,225Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.