Compare towns
Union vs Lancaster vs Scotland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Scotland has the most affordable homes ($294k 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 | Union | Lancaster | Scotland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
8,606Highest |
1,599 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.7±5 15% above U.S. |
| Union and Scotland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Scotland and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$99,881±$12k 24% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Scotland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$294,100±$20kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,188±$468Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,175 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±75.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Union School District | Nashoba | Scotland School District |
| 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.