Compare towns
Lancaster vs Orange vs Warwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Warwick has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Orange | Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
7,573 |
776Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
0% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
51.4±7.3Highest 29% above MA |
| Warwick 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Warwick and Orange 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% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Lancaster and Warwick 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 |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$93,333±$22k 10% below MA |
| Lancaster and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$349,400±$34k 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,367±$163 22% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest 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% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Warwick 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 | — |
| School district | Nashoba | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Warwick |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.