What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most kids (17.8% under 18).

Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).

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	Sandgate
People
Population	10,113Highest	435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.1±4.7Lowest 16% above U.S.	55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sandgate and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lancaster and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,148±$7kLowest 18% below U.S.	$69,167±$19kHighest 14% below U.S.
	Sandgate and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$202,200±$16kHighest 39% below U.S.	$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S.
	Lancaster and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$969±$169 31% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,932Highest 58% above U.S.	$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.	27 minHighest 3% above U.S.
Work from home	7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sandgate and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.