What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Strafford has the shortest commute (23 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	Strafford
People
Population	8,606Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.
	Strafford 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 U.S.: 22%	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford 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 U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Strafford 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%	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford 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.	$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Strafford 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.	$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Lancaster and Strafford 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.	$7,149Lowest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Strafford 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%	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#145 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Nashoba	Strafford 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.