What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the highest household income ($135k).

Norfolk has the most affordable homes ($431k median).

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	Norfolk
People
Population	8,606Highest	1,723Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.	48.2±7.4Highest 24% above U.S.
	Norfolk 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 U.S.: 22%	15.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lancaster and Norfolk 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 67% above U.S.	$91,548±$16kLowest 13% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Norfolk 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.	$430,900±$54kLowest 30% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Norfolk 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.	$1,190±$116Lowest 16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,235Highest 132% above U.S.	$6,065Lowest 94% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Norfolk 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%	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	27 minLowest 3% above U.S.
Work from home	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	23.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster and Norfolk 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	—
School district	Nashoba	Norfolk 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.