Compare towns
Lancaster vs Richmond vs Devens
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%).
Richmond has the oldest population (median age 62.1).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Richmond | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
1,403Lowest |
1,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.6% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
62.1±3Highest 55% above MA |
48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
37.8%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% MA: 47.3% |
67.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens 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 |
$106,250±$24kLowest about the MA average |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
| Devens 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±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$584,500±$51kHighest 4% above MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
| Richmond and Devens 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 |
$1,593±$299 10% below MA |
$1,500±$539Lowest 15% below MA |
| Lancaster and Richmond 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 |
$5,575 7% below MA |
$5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
14%±36.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Lancaster 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% |
7.3% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
90.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.1%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Devens 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 | — | — |
| School district | Nashoba | Richmond | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.