What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($411k median).

Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).

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	Bethlehem	Lancaster
People
Population	3,423Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S.	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Bethlehem and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bethlehem and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bethlehem and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,929±$16kLowest 35% above U.S.	$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$410,900±$36kLowest 24% above U.S.	$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S.	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,932Lowest 90% above U.S.	$7,235Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	68.3%±36.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bethlehem and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#82 of 149 in CT	#145 of 282 in MA
School district	Regional School District 14	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.