What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Monroe has the most kids (25.2% 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	Lancaster	Monroe
People
Population	8,606Lowest	18,949Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.	43.5±2.2Highest 12% above U.S.
	Monroe 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%	25.2%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Monroe 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%	15.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lancaster and Monroe 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%	57.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Monroe 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.	$157,250±$12kHighest 95% above U.S.
	Monroe 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±$60kHighest 56% above U.S.	$503,200±$31kLowest 51% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Monroe 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.	$994±$860Lowest 30% below U.S.
	Lancaster and Monroe 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.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.8%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Monroe 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%	2.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.	34 minHighest 29% above U.S.
Work from home	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#145 of 282 in MA	#48 of 149 in CT
School district	Nashoba	Monroe School District
High school in town	None in town	Masuk High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.8
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.