Compare towns
Lancaster vs Bolton vs Clinton
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 oldest population (median age 43.1).
Bolton has the most expensive homes ($796k median).
Clinton has the most renters (45.3% rent).
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 | Bolton | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
5,737Lowest |
15,563Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+13.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
41.2±1.7 3% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
| Lancaster and Bolton 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% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton 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% |
15.7%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Bolton 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 30% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
$89,781±$10kLowest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
$387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
$1,402±$76Lowest 20% below MA |
| Lancaster and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Clinton 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% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Lancaster 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 | #28 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Nashoba | Clinton |
| High school in town | None in town | Nashoba Regional | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.