Compare towns
Richmond vs Lancaster vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering RichmondLenox
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richmond has the oldest population (median age 62.1).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
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 | Richmond | Lancaster | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,403 |
8,606Highest |
752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.1±3Highest 55% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
47.1±11.1 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.8%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±3.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hancock and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$24k about the MA average |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$96,250±$26kLowest 7% below MA |
| Lancaster and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $584,500±$51kHighest 4% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$375,500±$21kLowest 33% below MA |
| Richmond and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$299 10% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,268±$415Lowest 28% below MA |
| Lancaster and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 7% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14%±36.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±36.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Richmond | Nashoba | Hancock |
| High school in town | None 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.