Compare towns
Roxbury vs Lancaster vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Roxbury has the most expensive homes ($715k median).
Lancaster has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Lyme has the most homeowners (90.8%).
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 | Roxbury | Lancaster | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,185Lowest |
8,606Highest |
2,303 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.7±1.8 41% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.6±3.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.7%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Roxbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Roxbury and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,864±$27kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$135,000±$22kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $714,500±$77kHighest 115% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$629,900±$105k 89% above U.S. |
| Roxbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$418Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,719±$1k 22% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,591Lowest 111% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$7,328Highest 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±48.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Nashoba | Regional School District 18 |
| 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 |
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.