Compare towns
Lancaster vs Hampton 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%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Leominster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Hampton | Leominster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
16,426 |
43,909Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.3±2.2 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Leominster and Hampton 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. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$83,816±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$380,400±$14kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Lancaster 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. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,354±$50Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$5,256Lowest 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Hampton 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #233 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Leominster |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Leominster High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| 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.