What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Paxton has the most affordable homes ($472k 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	Paxton
People
Population	8,606Highest	5,002Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA	41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA
	Lancaster and Paxton 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%	17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lancaster and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%	18.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Lancaster and Paxton 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%	54.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA	$134,083±$8kLowest 29% above MA
	Lancaster and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA	$472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA
	Lancaster and Paxton 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	$1,386±$88Lowest 21% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,235Highest 21% above MA	$7,129Lowest 19% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%	26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4% MA: 10%	1.4% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 9% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6%	25.5%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Lancaster and Paxton 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	#219 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashoba	Wachusett
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.