Compare towns
Lancaster vs Ayer vs Leominster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Leominster has the most affordable homes ($380k median).
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 | Ayer | Leominster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
8,645 |
43,909Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.3±2.2Highest 8% above MA |
| Leominster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
33.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Leominster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$83,816±$7kLowest 19% below MA |
| Lancaster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$380,400±$14kLowest 32% below MA |
| Lancaster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,354±$50Lowest 23% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,256 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
9.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
62.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #233 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Ayer Shirley School District | Leominster |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Leominster High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.