Compare towns
Tyngsborough vs North Reading vs Lancaster
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%).
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | North Reading | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,550 |
15,765Highest |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
| Lancaster and North Reading 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% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Tyngsborough and North Reading 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% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.8% MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,348±$18kLowest 24% above MA |
$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| North Reading and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,500±$34k about the MA average |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$404Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,259±$356 28% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,426 24% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.2%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Tyngsborough 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% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and North Reading 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 | #174 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical · Tyngsborough | North Reading | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Gr Lowell Regional Vocational Technical | North Reading High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
10.1Lowest |
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| 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.