Compare towns

Lancaster vs Scituate vs Killingly vs Devens

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 most people working from home (33.6%).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
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.

MeasureLancasterScituateKillinglyDevens
People
Population
8,606
10,517
17,867Highest
1,723Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-7.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
49.9±4Highest
28% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
48.6±4.3
25% above U.S.
Scituate and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
14.9%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Killingly 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%
25.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
14%±5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Scituate 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±4.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Devens 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
67% above U.S.
$112,315±$23k
39% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$189,250±$63kHighest
134% above U.S.
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±$60k
56% above U.S.
$449,300±$26k
35% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$556,800±$96kHighest
67% above U.S.
Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,489±$251
5% above U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,500±$539
6% above U.S.
Lancaster and Devens 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.
$5,265
69% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$5,556
78% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.3%±36.7
U.S.: 51.1%
59.6%±25.9
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
85.4%±64.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
25.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1966
14 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1950Lowest
30 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±5.1
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.5%±11.5
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #17 of 38 in RI #136 of 149 in CT —
School district Nashoba Scituate Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS —
High school in town None in town Scituate High School Killingly High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.8Lowest
11.1Highest
—
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.