Compare towns
Lancaster vs Mapleton vs Webster
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).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
1,884Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Lancaster and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Webster 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% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Mapleton 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. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below 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. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,999 28% 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% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Webster 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% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #145 of 282 in MA | — | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Webster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
| 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.