What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hubbardston has the most affordable homes ($372k median).

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	Hubbardston	Lancaster
People
Population	4,371Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±9.1Highest 17% above MA	43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA
	Hubbardston and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.8%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lancaster and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9%	19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hubbardston and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	50.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hubbardston and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$123,500±$24kLowest 19% above MA	$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA
	Lancaster and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,600±$18kLowest 34% below MA	$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$953±$206Lowest 46% below MA	$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,716Lowest 21% below MA	$7,235Highest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.4%±67.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Highest MA: 10%	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 23% above MA	32 minLowest 9% above MA
Work from home	14%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#128 of 282 in MA	#145 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	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.