Compare towns

Leominster vs Lunenburg vs Lancaster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leominster has the most renters (37.7% rent).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).

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.

MeasureLeominsterLunenburgLancaster
People
Population
43,909Highest
11,902
8,606Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.4%
MA: +7.4%
+16.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.3±2.2Highest
8% above MA
43.2±2.1
8% above MA
43.1±4.9Lowest
8% above MA
Leominster and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±1.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.1%±3Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.2%±4
MA: 19.4%
Lunenburg and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.3%±1.9
MA: 17.9%
17.9%±2.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
19.9%±4.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
Lancaster and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
44%
MA: 47.3%
50.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
3%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Leominster and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$83,816±$7kLowest
19% below MA
$112,828±$11k
9% above MA
$134,833±$27kHighest
30% above MA
Lancaster and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$380,400±$14kLowest
32% below MA
$463,900±$24k
17% below MA
$519,100±$60kHighest
8% below MA
Lancaster and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,354±$50Lowest
23% below MA
$1,974±$586
12% above MA
$2,338±$539Highest
33% above MA
Lancaster and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,256Lowest
12% below MA
$6,401
7% above MA
$7,235Highest
21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.9%±5.6
MA: 51.8%
45.8%±13.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
68.3%±36.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
Lancaster and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.2%Highest
MA: 10%
4.2%
MA: 10%
1.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
80.7%
MA: 62.5%
85.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
3 yrs newer than MA
1972Highest
8 yrs newer than MA
1971
7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
10% below MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
32 min
9% above MA
Work from home
10.9%±2.1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
15.8%±3.5
MA: 18.6%
33.6%±9.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #233 of 282 in MA #87 of 282 in MA #145 of 282 in MA
School district Leominster Lunenburg Nashoba
High school in town Leominster High School Lunenburg High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.6Lowest
12.4Highest
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On TownTapestry
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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.