Compare towns
Lancaster vs Sterling 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 shortest commute (32 min average).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Sterling | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
8,183 |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest 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%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling 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% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Sterling and Bolton 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 |
$129,063±$27kLowest 24% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
| Lancaster and Sterling 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 |
$6,757Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Sterling 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% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Lowest 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Wachusett | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.