Compare towns
Wheelock vs Lancaster vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Lancaster has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Wheelock | Lancaster | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 717Lowest |
8,606Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±5.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Wheelock and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,313±$282Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,937Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Wheelock 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 | — |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school 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.