Compare towns
Morris vs Lancaster vs Bethlehem vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Morris has the most homeowners (89.4%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Morris | Lancaster | Bethlehem | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,164Lowest |
8,606Highest |
3,423 |
4,243 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 52.8±6.5Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
51.6±1.9 33% above U.S. |
| Morris and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Morris and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlefield and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,191±$25k 35% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$108,929±$16k 35% above U.S. |
$99,837±$20kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,000±$60k 19% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
$376,000±$27kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$134 15% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
$1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,273Lowest 69% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,932 90% above U.S. |
$6,853 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±31.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±52.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #82 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 20 | Nashoba | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.