Compare towns
Nahant vs Lancaster vs Winthrop Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Winthrop Town has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Winthrop Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
8,606 |
18,759Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
43±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
19.7%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Winthrop Town and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
45.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Winthrop Town and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,762±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$116,167±$11k 12% above MA |
| Lancaster and Winthrop Town 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 |
$649,600±$34k 16% above MA |
| Nahant and Winthrop Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,777±$334Lowest about the MA average |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,064±$137 17% above MA |
| Lancaster and Winthrop Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,615 10% above MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$6,355Lowest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.6%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Winthrop Town 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% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
56.9%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 min 10% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.2%±3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #129 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #167 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nahant | Nashoba | Winthrop |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winthrop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 15.4 |
| 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.