What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).

Norwell has the most expensive homes ($866k 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	Norwell
People
Population	8,606Lowest	11,361Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA	39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average
	Lancaster and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%	28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Lancaster and Norwell 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 MA: 47.3%	69.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Norwell 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 30% above MA	$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA	$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA	$2,215±$336Lowest 26% above MA
	Lancaster and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,235Lowest 21% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%	67.1%±24.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster and Norwell 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%	2.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 9% above MA	35 minHighest 21% above MA
Work from home	33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6%	27.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Lancaster and Norwell 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	#80 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashoba	Norwell
High school in town	None in town	Norwell High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.7
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.