Compare towns
Lancaster vs Lisbon vs Bolton
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 renters (14.9% rent).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($316k median).
Bolton has the most expensive homes ($796k 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 | Lisbon | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
4,211Lowest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.5±5.2Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Lisbon and Lancaster 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% |
22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bolton and Lisbon 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% |
21.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lisbon and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lisbon 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 67% above U.S. |
$92,708±$12kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$315,700±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
— | $1,583±$1kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$4,044Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±75.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Lisbon School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.