Compare towns
Lancaster vs Everett vs Bolton vs Devens
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 affordable homes ($519k median).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Bolton has the most expensive homes ($796k median).
Devens has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
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 | Everett | Bolton | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
50,045Highest |
5,737 |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
41.2±1.7 3% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
| Devens 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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5 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% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Devens 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 |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
$189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
| Bolton and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
$1,500±$539Lowest 15% below MA |
| Lancaster and Everett 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 |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Lancaster 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% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nashoba | Everett | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | Nashoba Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
12.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.