South Lancaster, Massachusetts
South Lancaster is a community of 2,177 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts.
Why visit South Lancaster
Townapedia lists 23 museums and landmarks, 11 parks and trails, 12 places to eat and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Atherton Bridge, The Strand Theatre, Anthony Lane House and Bigelow Carpet Company Woolen Mills.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; January lows average 16°F.
Weather in South Lancaster
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About South Lancaster
South Lancaster is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Lancaster and close to the Town of Clinton in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,642 at the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article South Lancaster, Massachusetts (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Atherton Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Bridge in United States of America
Museums and landmarks23
Anthony Lane House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
House in Lancaster, Massachusetts
Bigelow Carpet Company Woolen Mills
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Factory in Massachusetts, United States of America
Bowers School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Historic school building in Clinton, Massachusetts, United States
Center Village District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Historic district in Massachusetts, United States
Corcoran School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Historic school building in Clinton, Massachusetts, United States
Downtown Clinton Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Historic district in Massachusetts, United States
Founder's Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Historic building in Lancaster, Massachusetts
Lancaster Industrial School for Girls
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Girl school in Massachusetts, United States of America
Lancaster Mills
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Historic district in Clinton, United States of America
Middle Cemetery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Cemetery in Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Nathaniel Thayer Estate
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Lancaster, Massachusetts, listed on the NRHP in Worcester County
North Village Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Historic district in Massachusetts, United States
11 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds11
Bolton Flats Wildlife Management Area
Park · 3.3 mi
Park in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States of America
Restaurants and cafes12
Michael's Bridge Diner
Restaurant · 0.6 mi
56 South Main Street
Mo-Sa 06:00-15:00; Tu off; Su 06:00-14:00
John's Sandwich Shop
Restaurant · Sandwich · 1.0 mi
727 Main Street, Clinton
T.C. Landos
Restaurant · American, Pizza, Salad, Sandwich · 1.1 mi
Mo-Sa 11:00-21:00; Su 12:00-20:00
Zaytoon Clinton
Restaurant · Mediterranean · 1.5 mi
72B High Street, Clinton
Dunkin' Donuts
Fast food · Donut, Coffee Shop · 1.4 mi
Dunkin' Donuts Main Street, Clinton
04:30-21:00
McDonald's
Fast food · Burger · 0.6 mi
1040 Main Street, Clinton
Mo-Th 05:30-24:00; Fr 05:30-04:00, Sa 00:00-24:00, Su 04:00-24:00
Churches and places of worship7
First Church of Christ, Unitarian
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
First Methodist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Shopping2
Schools, colleges and libraries22
Healthcare3
Map of South Lancaster
84 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 16°F | 2.6 in |
| Feb | 37°F | 17°F | 2.8 in |
| Mar | 45°F | 25°F | 3.8 in |
| Apr | 58°F | 35°F | 3.8 in |
| May | 70°F | 46°F | 3.6 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 56°F | 4.1 in |
| Jul | 83°F | 62°F | 3.5 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 60°F | 3.4 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 51°F | 4.0 in |
| Oct | 62°F | 40°F | 4.5 in |
| Nov | 50°F | 30°F | 3.6 in |
| Dec | 40°F | 22°F | 3.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Fitchburg Muni Ap (9 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Worcester County has had 24 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-05-15: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2023-09-15: Hurricane Lee (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2018-07-19: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2015-04-13: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Minute Man Airfield (MMN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 9 miles away.
- Leominster 7 mi northwest, about 11 min by car
- Hudson 7 mi southeast, about 12 min by car
- Shirley 7 mi north, about 11 min by car
- Devens 9 mi northeast, about 14 min by car
- Marlborough 10 mi southeast, about 16 min by car
- Ayer 10 mi northeast, about 17 min by car
- Lunenburg 11 mi north, about 18 min by car
- Maynard 12 mi east, about 20 min by car
- Worcester 13 mi southwest, about 21 min by car
- Fitchburg 13 mi northwest, about 21 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Main Street, South Lancaster MA, John Phelan, CC BY 3.0
- Post Office, South Lancaster MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lancaster Railroad embankment in South Lancaster, March 2022, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Dexter Drumlin Reservation, South Lancaster MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Dexter Drumlin, South Lancaster, MA, USA - panoramio, rvsrvs, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Little Free Library, South Lancaster MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Atherton Bridge, Jet Lowe, Public domain
- Second Meeting House of the United Methodists, Clinton MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- SterlingMA StephenHastingsHouse, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lancaster Mills Clinton Mass, Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain
- Lancaster Unitarian Church, Lancaster, MA, Paul Keleher, CC BY 2.0
- Bowers School Clinton MA, Tim Pierce, CC BY 3.0
- Ponakin Bridge, Jet Lowe, Public domain
- Atlantic Union College - Founder's Hall, Daderot, Public domain
- Wachusett-dam, Martinde at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sterling Center, Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain
- LancasterMA OldSettlersBuryingGround, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- SouthboroughMA WachusettAqueductLowerDam, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bigelow Carpet Mills Clinton, Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain
- Josiah Billings House, North Lancaster MA, John Phelan, CC BY 3.0
- LancasterMA GirlsSchool 1, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- First Church of Christ,Lancaster MA, John Phelan, CC BY 3.0
- ClintonMA WoodlawnCemetery Gate, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- High-Union Clinton MA, Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain
- South Lancaster Engine House, South Lancaster MA, John Phelan, CC BY 3.0
- Corcoran School Clinton MA, Tim Pierce, CC BY 3.0
- Thayer music building, Paul Keleher, CC BY 2.0
- LancasterMA AnthonyLaneHouse, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- A reconstruction of the Sawyer Homestead, Sterling MA, John Phelan, CC BY 3.0
- Bigelow Clinton, Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain
- Nashua River Bolton Flats, Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), CC0
- Museum of Russian Icons (Clinton, Massachusetts) 05, Victor Grigas, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Worcester Branch bridge over Route 70, March 2022, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Thayer station building, March 2022, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lancaster Railroad embankment at the Nashua River, March 2022, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Arch bridge over Greeley Street, Clinton, Massachusetts, March 2022, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Clinton station and Worcester Branch tracks, May 2017, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Clinton station from Agricultural Branch tracks, January 2016, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Regonini Memorials at Clinton station, January 2016, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Industrial building with freight track cutout in Clinton, May 2017, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
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