What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	Merrimac
People
Population	8,606Highest	6,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA	49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA
	Merrimac and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4%	16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lancaster and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Merrimac and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	41%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Lancaster and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA	$123,054±$16kLowest 18% above MA
	Lancaster and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA	$553,400±$38kHighest about the MA average
	Merrimac 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 33% above MA	$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,235Lowest 21% above MA	$7,399Highest 23% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%	59.3%±29.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%	9.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	81.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 9% above MA	32 minHighest 10% above MA
Work from home	33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6%	8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#145 of 282 in MA	#188 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashoba	Pentucket
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.