What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the highest household income ($135k).

Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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	Thornton
People
Population	8,606Highest	2,799Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.	51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S.
	Thornton 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%	13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lancaster and Thornton 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%	46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thornton 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.	$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S.	$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.	$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,235Highest 132% above U.S.	$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.7%±24.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Thornton 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%	9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	29.8%±9.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster and Thornton 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	#18 of 120 in NH
School district	Nashoba	Thornton 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.