What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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

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	Lyme	Lancaster
People
Population	1,710Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S.	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Lyme and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lyme and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lyme and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lyme and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,906±$15kLowest 66% above U.S.	$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S.	$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$7,235Lowest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster and Lyme 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
School district	Lyme School District	Nashoba
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.