What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).

Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).

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	Mason	Lancaster
People
Population	1,451Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8% U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S.	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Mason and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Mason and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lancaster and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lancaster and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,090±$3kLowest 38% above U.S.	$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S.	$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S.	$2,338±$539Lowest 65% above U.S.
	Mason and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,049Lowest 126% above U.S.	$7,235Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	68.3%±36.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mason and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 55% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster and Mason 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	Mason School District	Nashoba
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.