Compare towns
Lancaster vs Ogunquit vs Topsham 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 highest household income ($135k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Leominster has the most renters (37.7% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Topsham | Leominster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
1,379Lowest |
9,706 |
43,909Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
43.3±2.2 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$83,816±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$380,400±$14k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
— | $1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,354±$50Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,256 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME | #233 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Leominster |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Mt Ararat High School | Leominster High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.