What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornwall has the oldest population (median age 53.9).

Lancaster has the most kids (19.2% under 18).

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	Cornwall	Lancaster
People
Population	1,425Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.9±5.1Highest 39% above U.S.	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Cornwall and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$128,864±$34kLowest 60% above U.S.	$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$554,600±$106kHighest 67% above U.S.	$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S.
	Cornwall and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,047±$121Lowest 26% below U.S.	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,792Lowest 86% above U.S.	$7,235Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.8%±31.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	32.4%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster and Cornwall 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	Cornwall 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.