Compare towns
Lancaster vs Smithfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($446k 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.
| Measure | Lancaster | Smithfield | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
22,233Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Smithfield 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% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% 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. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above 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. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% 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. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Lowest 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% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Nashoba | Smithfield | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Smithfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.