What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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	Preston
People
Population	8,606Highest	4,821Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.	46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S.
	Preston 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%	18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Preston 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%	23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Preston and Lancaster 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 U.S.: 35.7%	28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Preston 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 67% above U.S.	$116,648±$27kLowest 44% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Preston 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.	$361,900±$13kLowest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.	$1,433±$1kLowest about the U.S. average
	Lancaster and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,235Highest 132% above U.S.	$4,749Lowest 52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.6%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Preston 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%	2.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#145 of 282 in MA	#93 of 149 in CT
School district	Nashoba	Preston 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.