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Buying a home in South Lancaster, Massachusetts

The typical owner-occupied home in South Lancaster is worth about $421,400, 25% below the Massachusetts median of $562,100 and 27% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $6,505 a year in property taxes, about 1.54% of their home's value, higher than the Massachusetts rate of 1.07%. The median household earns $109,173 a year, so the median home costs 3.9 times the median income (5.4 times for Massachusetts). 74% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 88% of those owners still have a mortgage.

South Lancaster at a glance

South Lancaster Massachusetts U.S.
Median home value $421,400 $562,100 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $6,505 $5,992 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.54% 1.07% 0.94%
Median household income $109,173 $103,960 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 74% 63% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 88% 66% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,504 $2,726 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 25.4% 21.9% 21.0%
Median rent $1,893 $1,762 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 37.6% 30.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1960 1964 1980
Vacant homes 5.7% 8.1% 10.1%
Population 2,177 7,044,056 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in South Lancaster

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median South Lancaster home of $421,400 with 20% down costs about $2,984 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,686, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $127,895 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 33% of the median South Lancaster household income of $109,173; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $360,000.

The median rent here is $1,893 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,091 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$84,280
Loan amount$337,120
Principal and interest$2,268
Property taxes (1.54% a year)$541
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$176
PMI$0
Total per month$2,984

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$14,749
Loan amount$413,767
Principal and interest$2,783
Property taxes (1.54% a year)$541
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$176
FHA mortgage insurance$186
Total per month$3,686

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Questions about home buying in South Lancaster

What is the median home value in South Lancaster?

About $421,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in South Lancaster?

Homeowners pay a median $6,505 a year, which is about 1.54% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in South Lancaster?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,984 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $127,895 a year.

More about South Lancaster

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data