What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k 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	Pepperell
People
Population	8,606Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA	42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA
	Lancaster and Pepperell 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%	20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Pepperell 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 MA: 17.9%	18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Lancaster and Pepperell 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%	43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Pepperell 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±$27kHighest 30% above MA	$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA
	Lancaster and Pepperell 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	$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA
	Lancaster and Pepperell 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	$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,235Highest 21% above MA	$6,698Lowest 12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster and Pepperell 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%	8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 9% above MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6%	18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#145 of 282 in MA	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashoba	North Middlesex
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.