What stands out worked out from the figures below

Goshen has the oldest population (median age 51.4).

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	Goshen	Lancaster
People
Population	3,196Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.4±3.6Highest 32% above U.S.	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Goshen and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Goshen and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lancaster and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,093±$27kHighest 88% above U.S.	$134,833±$27kLowest 67% above U.S.
	Goshen and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$482,400±$71kLowest 45% above U.S.	$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,250±$724Lowest 12% below U.S.	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,292Lowest 70% above U.S.	$7,235Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.8%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 59% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#145 of 282 in MA
School district	Regional School District 20	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.