Compare towns
Nahant vs Lancaster vs Nahant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Nahant | Lancaster | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
8,606Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,762±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$112,762±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
| Lancaster and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,777±$334Lowest about the MA average |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,777±$334Lowest about the MA average |
| Lancaster and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,615Lowest 10% above MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$6,615Lowest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #129 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nahant | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.