Compare towns
Lancaster vs Danielson vs Windsor Locks vs Leominster
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%).
Danielson has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Leominster has the oldest population (median age 43.3).
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 | Danielson | Windsor Locks | Leominster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
4,209Lowest |
12,579 |
43,909Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
43.3±2.2Highest 11% above U.S. |
| 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%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Leominster 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% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Windsor Locks 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 67% above U.S. |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$83,816±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$380,400±$14k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,235±$194Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,354±$50 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,009 29% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,256 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Windsor Locks 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% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #145 of 282 in MA | — | #109 of 149 in CT | #233 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | Windsor Locks School District | Leominster |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Windsor Locks High School | Leominster High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.