Compare towns
Lancaster vs Needham vs Leominster
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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Leominster has the most affordable homes ($380k median).
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 | Needham | Leominster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
32,459 |
43,909Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.3±2.2Highest 8% above MA |
| Leominster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
33.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$27k 30% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$83,816±$7kLowest 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$380,400±$14kLowest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,354±$50Lowest 23% below MA |
| Needham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,256Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
62.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #233 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Needham | Leominster |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Leominster High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.