Compare towns
Lancaster vs Bethany vs Plainfield
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 the most people working from home (33.6%).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Bethany | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
5,288Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.5±2.9 9% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bethany and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
58%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bethany and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$166,236±$20kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Bethany and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$418,000±$42k 26% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
— | $1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$8,313Highest 167% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #145 of 282 in MA | #30 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Nashoba | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.