Compare towns
Lancaster vs Ware vs Worcester vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Bolton has the most expensive homes ($796k median).
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 | Ware | Worcester | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
10,048 |
207,055Highest |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
41.2±1.7 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
| Lancaster and Bolton 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Ware 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Ware | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | South High Community | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.