Compare towns
Lancaster vs Salem 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 oldest population (median age 43.1).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Salem | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
44,795Highest |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
41.2±1.7 3% above MA |
| Lancaster and Bolton 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Lancaster 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% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Salem 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% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
| Lancaster and Salem 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 |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Salem | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
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.