What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k 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	Rowley
People
Population	8,606Highest	6,251Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA	50±6.3Highest 25% above MA
	Rowley and Lancaster 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%	19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Rowley and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Rowley 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	56.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Rowley 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	$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA
	Lancaster and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA	$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA	$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA
	Lancaster and Rowley 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	$8,309Highest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±27.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster and Rowley 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%	3.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 9% above MA	28 minLowest 3% below MA
Work from home	33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6%	11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#145 of 282 in MA	#214 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashoba	Triton
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.