What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($764k 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	Salisbury
People
Population	8,606Highest	4,224Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.	44.2±9.9Highest 14% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±4 U.S.: 22%	19.2%±6.9 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salisbury 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 U.S.: 35.7%	58.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lancaster and Salisbury 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.	$124,256±$26kLowest 54% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S.	$763,700±$121kHighest 130% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.	$1,846±$736Lowest 31% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Salisbury 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.	$5,125Lowest 64% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	23.2%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Salisbury 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%	4.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.
Work from home	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	28%±8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster and Salisbury 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	#19 of 149 in CT
School district	Nashoba	Salisbury 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.