Compare towns
Lancaster vs Millbury vs Webster
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 people working from home (33.6%).
Millbury has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Millbury | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
13,961 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Lancaster and Millbury 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% |
20.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Millbury and Webster 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% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury 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 MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Millbury 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 30% above MA |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Lancaster and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Lancaster and Millbury 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 |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| Lancaster and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$5,406 10% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.4% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #145 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Millbury | Webster |
| High school in town | None in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.