What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).

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	Rowley	Lancaster
People
Population	6,251Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50±6.3Highest 25% above MA	43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA
	Rowley and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%	19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Rowley and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%	19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Rowley and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Rowley and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA	$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA
	Lancaster and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA	$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA	$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA
	Lancaster and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,309Highest 39% above MA	$7,235Lowest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±27.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Highest MA: 10%	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 3% below MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6%	33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#214 of 282 in MA	#145 of 282 in MA
School district	Triton	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.