Compare towns
Lancaster vs Lyme vs Devens
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Lyme | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
1,710Lowest |
1,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Lancaster 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens and Lyme 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. |
$133,906±$15kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Devens 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. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Devens 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,556Lowest 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Devens 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 | — | — |
| School district | Nashoba | Lyme School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.