What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belgrade has the most affordable homes ($312k median).

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	Belgrade	Lancaster
People
Population	3,351Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.3±14.6Highest 22% above U.S.	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Belgrade and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Belgrade and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Belgrade and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Belgrade and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,338±$13kLowest 9% above U.S.	$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$312,200±$44kLowest 6% below U.S.	$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S.	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,859Lowest 8% below U.S.	$7,235Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	17.2%±35.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	20.4%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster and Belgrade 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	#71 of 133 in ME	#145 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 18	Nashoba
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.