Compare towns
Mapleton vs Lancaster vs Northbridge vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Mapleton | Lancaster | Northbridge | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
8,606 |
16,458Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Lancaster and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Nashoba | Northbridge | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.