Compare towns
Roxbury vs Lancaster vs Washington
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 oldest population (median age 54.7).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Washington has the shortest commute (26 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 | Roxbury | Lancaster | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,185Lowest |
8,606Highest |
3,676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.7±1.8Highest 41% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5 28% above U.S. |
| Roxbury and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Washington 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% |
26.9%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Roxbury and Washington 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% |
53.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,864±$27k 53% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$101,549±$16kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Roxbury 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. |
$660,200±$130k 98% above U.S. |
| Roxbury and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$418 21% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,204±$264Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,591 111% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,709Lowest 51% 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% |
26.1%±24Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Nashoba | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.