Compare towns
Tyngsborough vs Lancaster vs Norton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tyngsborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Norton has the most affordable homes ($501k 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 | Tyngsborough | Lancaster | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,550 |
8,606Lowest |
19,240Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
39.6±1.2 about the MA average |
| Lancaster and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Tyngsborough and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,348±$18k 24% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA |
| Lancaster and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,500±$34kHighest about the MA average |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA |
| Tyngsborough and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$404 13% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,911±$375Lowest 8% above MA |
| Lancaster and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,426Highest 24% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$5,929Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.2%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Tyngsborough and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
33 minHighest 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #174 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical · Tyngsborough | Nashoba | Norton |
| High school in town | Gr Lowell Regional Vocational Technical | None in town | Norton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.