Compare towns
Lancaster vs Melrose vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Melrose has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Bolton has the highest household income ($205k).
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 | Melrose | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
29,650Highest |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
| Melrose 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Melrose 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Melrose 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 30% above MA |
$133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
$796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
| Melrose and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,970±$149 12% above MA |
$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
| Lancaster and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$7,578 26% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #62 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Melrose | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Melrose High | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.