What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).

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	Lancaster	Auburn
People
Population	8,606Highest	6,119Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.	44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S.
	Auburn and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Auburn and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lancaster and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Auburn and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,833±$27kLowest 67% above U.S.	$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S.
	Auburn and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S.	$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S.
	Auburn and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.	$1,893±$822Lowest 34% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,235Lowest 132% above U.S.	$8,092Highest 159% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	2.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	26.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster and Auburn 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	#44 of 120 in NH
School district	Nashoba	Auburn School District
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.