Compare towns
Westborough vs Lancaster vs Northampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Lancaster has the most homeowners (85.1%).
Northampton has the shortest commute (21 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 | Westborough | Lancaster | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,944 |
8,606Lowest |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±1.6Lowest 3% below MA |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
| Lancaster and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.6%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Westborough and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Northampton and Lancaster 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 MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $141,944±$12kHighest 37% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| Westborough and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $685,300±$31kHighest 22% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,106±$151 20% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA |
| Lancaster and Westborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,983Highest 67% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$5,680Lowest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.8% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Westborough 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 | #21 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Westborough | Nashoba | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Westborough High | None in town | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.