Compare towns
Lancaster vs Springfield vs Temple
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%).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Temple has the most renters (17.8% rent).
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 | Springfield | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
1,122Lowest |
1,363 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Temple 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% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Springfield 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% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Temple 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 67% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,169±$523 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,946Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Temple 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #145 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Nashoba | — | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.