Compare towns
Lancaster vs Northbridge vs Raynham
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%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Raynham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.1%).
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 | Northbridge | Raynham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
16,458Highest |
15,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
42.9±1.5Lowest 7% above MA |
| Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Raynham 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% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge and Raynham 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 |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$124,012±$16k 19% above MA |
| Lancaster and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$524,400±$29kHighest 7% below MA |
| Raynham and Lancaster 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 |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,749±$74 about the MA average |
| Lancaster and Raynham 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 |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,752 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Raynham 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% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #145 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #190 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Northbridge | Bridgewater-Raynham |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| 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.