What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).

Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashfield	Lancaster
People
Population	1,893Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA	43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA
Kids under 18	12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lancaster and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Highest MA: 47.3%	50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	3%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Lancaster and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA	$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA	$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA	$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,197Lowest 13% below MA	$7,235Highest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.5%±34Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Highest MA: 10%	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	24%±6Lowest MA: 18.6%	33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Lancaster and Ashfield 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	Mohawk Trail	Nashoba
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.