What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has the oldest population (median age 54).

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	Chester	Lancaster
People
Population	3,825Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54±3.4Highest 39% above U.S.	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chester and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chester and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$109,191±$18kLowest 35% above U.S.	$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$442,200±$25kLowest 33% above U.S.	$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,549±$247Lowest 10% above U.S.	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,364Lowest 104% above U.S.	$7,235Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±22.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 7% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	18.3%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#8 of 149 in CT	#145 of 282 in MA
School district	Chester School District	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.