Compare towns
Lancaster vs North Hampton 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%).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
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 | North Hampton | Leominster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
4,543Lowest |
43,909Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.3±2.2 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Leominster and Lancaster 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 67% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$83,816±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$380,400±$14kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$1,354±$50Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$5,256Lowest 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest 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% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #233 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | North Hampton School District | 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 | 5 photos → | 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.