Compare towns
Lancaster vs Mapleton vs Newburgh 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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Newburgh has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
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 | Mapleton | Newburgh | Leominster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
1,884 |
1,475Lowest |
43,909Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.8±5.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.3±2.2 11% above U.S. |
| Newburgh and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newburgh 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Leominster 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$76,750±$10kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$83,816±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$244,600±$20k 26% below U.S. |
$380,400±$14k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$950±$219 33% below U.S. |
$1,354±$50 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,748 12% below U.S. |
$5,256 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Leominster 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest 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 | — | — | #233 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | Leominster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Leominster High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.