What stands out worked out from the figures below

Conway has the oldest population (median age 55.6).

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	Conway	Lancaster
People
Population	1,755Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	55.6±3Highest 39% above MA	43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA
Kids under 18	16.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lancaster and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.9%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%	19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	3%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Lancaster and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,250±$11kLowest 6% below MA	$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA
	Lancaster and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA	$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,800±$990Lowest about the MA average	$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA
	Lancaster and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,797Lowest 3% below MA	$7,235Highest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Highest MA: 10%	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 18% below MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	29.1%±8.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Lancaster and Conway 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	Conway	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.