Compare towns
Lancaster vs Orange vs Bolton
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 shortest commute (32 min average).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
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 | Orange | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
7,573 |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
| Lancaster and Orange 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% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Orange 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% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Bolton 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 30% above MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
| Lancaster and Bolton 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 |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Orange 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% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.