What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).

Winchendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

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	Winchendon
People
Population	3,216Lowest	10,440Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S.	39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average
	Lancaster and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Winchendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Winchendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S.	$75,690±$14kHighest 6% below U.S.
	Winchendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S.	$323,800±$19kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S.
	Winchendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,226Highest 35% above U.S.	$3,780Lowest 21% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Winchendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	76.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster and Winchendon 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	#107 of 120 in NH	#269 of 282 in MA
School district	White Mountains Regional School District	Winchendon
High school in town	None in town	Murdock High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.3
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.