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About Lancaster, MA

About Lancaster, MA

Rural community for virtual workers

At first visit, Lancaster doesn’t seem to have much to offer. This rural town doesn’t have a vibrant restaurant scene or exciting nightlife. However, for remote or hybrid workers looking for an escape from the city, a sleepy country town is exactly what they may be looking for. “In this new world of working from home, it’s appealing to have a very rural community with larger lots and more of a farm town atmosphere,” said Nicolas Pelletier, a real estate agent with Keller Williams who has worked in the area for more than 10 years.

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Aerial view looking south over Lancaster.
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Welcome to Lancaster, was incorporated in 1653.
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Houses in the countryside

The streets of Lancaster still have a rural feel, but the well-kept houses, from tidy bungalows to grand estates, feel upscale. The area is largely car-dependent, as many of the rural streets are narrow and winding, with few sidewalks for pedestrians, and no streetlights. There are few planned subdivisions in the region, so the styles and prices of homes vary from around $360,000 for two-bedroom single-story homes, and $800,000 for vast three-bedroom traditional homes.

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A quiet street in Lancaster.
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A row of two-story homes in Lancaster, MA.
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Commune with nature at the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge

Lancaster is surrounded by conservation areas and wildlife management areas, which means that residents have abundant options for outdoor recreation. Visitors to the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge can go hiking through the scenic forest, or kayaking along the Nashua river. The Cook Conservation Area has wide, well-maintained walking paths that are ideal for walking dogs, as well as side trails for mountain biking. Progin Park, at the northwest corner of the town, contains the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Fields which attract players of all ages to practice their skills on the state-of-the-art fields.

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The Nashua River in Oxbow National Refuge.
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Imagine all the picnics you can have in Central Park in Lancaster.
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A family enjoying a nice day at Central Park, Lancaster.
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Nearby Clinton offers shopping and dining

Occasionally, small towns can offer a surprising amount of nightlife among their historic streets; Lancaster is not one of those towns. “Lancaster is pretty quiet,” Pelletier says. “If someone’s looking for access to shopping or restaurants, they’d typically go to Leominster or Clinton.” Within city limits, a local favorite destination is Kimball Farm, where visitors can get slow-churned ice cream as well as classic New England fried seafood. Residents can also travel the 3 miles into Clinton for dinner and cocktails at Clintons Bar & Grille for unique dishes like Angus beef lasagna or a dry-aged pork chop. Sterling Street Brewery features a selection of locally-brewed beers and hosts food trucks for hungry visitors. Hannaford Grocery in Clinton provides all the staples for a weekly shopping trip, while smaller farm stands like the Harper's Farm & Garden provide fresh-from-the-farm produce and meats.

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Fresh produce and specialty items are found at Hannaford Grocery.
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TC Lando's are know for their great pizza.
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Sandee's Restaurant always serves updated specials seasonally.
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Top-ten schools in the Nashoba Public Schools district

Students in Lancaster may attend Mary Rowlandson Elementary School, which has a B grade from Niche and a 11-to-1 student-teacher ratio, before going on to Luther Burbank Middle School, which is ranked as the 7th-best public middle school in Worcester County and has an A-minus grade from Niche. Nashoba Regional High School, also ranked 7th-best high school in Worcester County, has an A grade from Niche.

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Mary Rowlandson Elementary School encourages creativity and critical thinking.
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The staff at Luther Burbank Middle School, in Lancaster, are caring and supportive.
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Between two interstates

Lancaster is located right between Interstate 190, which takes travelers directly south to Worcester within 20 miles, and Interstate 495, which can take travelers to Providence within 60 miles. Residents can travel around four miles west to get on I-190, or 5.5 miles east to I-495. The area is heavily car-dependent and isn’t served by transit; however, the commuter rail station in North Leominster is only 8 miles from Lancaster and can connect residents to Boston within 90 minutes. A UMass Memorial medical center located in Clinton is only 3 miles from the heart of Lancaster, and UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester is 20 miles away.

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Lancaster was incorporated in1653.

Year-round excitement at the Bolton Fairgrounds

The local fair may only be up and running for two weeks, but the Bolton Fairgrounds host year-round activities. In the winter, the grounds hosts the Celebration of Lights at the fairgrounds – a one-mile driving tour through a holiday light display that features a 90-foot Christmas Tree and 300-foot multi-colored tunnel. The Thayer Memorial Library hosts several community events, from art classes to yoga to a Nintendo game night. In nearby Clinton, four miles south of Lancaster, The Icon Museum & Study Center hosts a rotating schedule of exhibitions that feature stories and artifacts from local history.

Hannah Rainey
Written By
Hannah Rainey
David Alexander
Photography Contributed By
David Alexander
Tony Simonetti
Video By
Tony Simonetti

Neighborhood Map

Lancaster by the Numbers

8,494
Population
$601K
Average Housing Value
21
Average Days on Market

Average Home Value



Source: Public Records

Top Schools in Lancaster, MA

Source:

Best Public Elementary Schools

Hildreth Elementary School
#1 Hildreth Elementary School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Lunenburg Primary School
#2 Lunenburg Primary School
B+
Niche
Florence Sawyer School
#3 Florence Sawyer School
A-
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Mary Rowlandson Elementary School
#4 Mary Rowlandson Elementary School
B+
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Page Hilltop School
#5 Page Hilltop School
B+
Niche
4
GreatSchools
Lura A. White Elementary School
#6 Lura A. White Elementary School
B-
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Clinton Elementary School
#7 Clinton Elementary School
C+
Niche
4
GreatSchools

Best Public Middle Schools

Florence Sawyer School
#1 Florence Sawyer School
A-
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Luther Burbank Middle School
#2 Luther Burbank Middle School
A-
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Clinton Middle School
#3 Clinton Middle School
C+
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School
#4 Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School
B-
Niche
4
GreatSchools

Best Public High Schools

The Bromfield School
#1 The Bromfield School
A
Niche
10
GreatSchools
Nashoba Regional High School
#2 Nashoba Regional High School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Lunenburg High School
#3 Lunenburg High School
B+
Niche
9
GreatSchools
Wachusett Regional High School
#4 Wachusett Regional High School
A-
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Ayer Shirley Regional High School
#5 Ayer Shirley Regional High School
B
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Leominster High School
#6 Leominster High School
B
Niche
4
GreatSchools
Clinton Senior High School
#7 Clinton Senior High School
B-
Niche
3
GreatSchools

Best Private Schools

South Lancaster Academy
#1 South Lancaster Academy
A-
Niche
Trivium School
#2 Trivium School
A-
Niche

Agents Specializing in this Area

Agent Spotlight

Aura Gauthier
(774) 545-8019
I have been a full time Realtor since 1992. I service Metrowest, Worcester and Boston Areas specializing in Residential properties as a Listing Agent, Buyer’s Agent and Relocation Expert. My diversified experience allows me to better assist a client whether it be a short sale, foreclosure or luxury home.

I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. I attended both Wright-State University and UMASS.
I love my community and I am currently and have been in the past involved with many Charitable Organizations including The Evening of Giving, Relay for Life, MDA, I am a contributing member of our company’s Charitable Trust among others. I treasure the times with family and friends and love traveling with my husband, the beach, live theater, but most of all attendIng my grandchildren’s games and performances!
I was the owner of "Flower Design by Aura” and worked retail for many years before switching careers to the real estate industry. Since then I have consistently been a Top Producer in my field receiving many awards and accolades including the President’s Club and Chairman’s Club in the past and most recently Boston’s Top 20 and from ERA Key Realty Services, The Circle of Achievement and Top All-Around Agent.

I would love the opportunity to assist you whether you’re buying or selling your home!
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.