What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has the shortest commute (23 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	Pelham	Lancaster
People
Population	1,335Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45±8.4Highest 13% above MA	43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA
	Pelham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%	19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Pelham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9%	19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Pelham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	3%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Lancaster and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,750±$24kLowest 9% above MA	$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA
	Lancaster and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$447,600±$33kLowest 20% below MA	$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA
	Lancaster and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA	$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,472Highest 25% above MA	$7,235Lowest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest MA: 10%	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	32.8%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Lancaster and Pelham 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	Pelham	Nashoba
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.