What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cheshire has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).

Lanesborough has the most people working from home (6.9%).

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	Cheshire	Lanesborough
People
Population	3,216Highest	3,028Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	-1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	53.7±4.5Highest 34% above MA	51.2±4.4Lowest 28% above MA
	Cheshire and Lanesborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	19%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lanesborough and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9%	22.2%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Cheshire and Lanesborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%	2.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Cheshire and Lanesborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,803±$14kLowest 33% below MA	$86,219±$19kHighest 17% below MA
	Lanesborough and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA	$299,400±$36kHighest 47% below MA
	Lanesborough and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,349±$199 23% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,005Lowest 50% below MA	$5,007Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.2%±24Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±41.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lanesborough and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Highest MA: 10%	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Lowest MA: 62.5%	95%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	22 minLowest 25% below MA
Work from home	4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	6.9%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Lanesborough and Cheshire 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	#274 of 282 in MA	#75 of 282 in MA
School district	Hoosac Valley Regional	Mount Greylock
High school in town	Hoosac Valley High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.5	—
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.