What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rupert has the most people working from home (18.6%).

Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($202k median).

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	Rupert	Lancaster
People
Population	676Lowest	10,113Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S.	45.1±4.7Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Rupert and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lancaster and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above U.S.	$66,148±$7kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Rupert and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,500±$63kHighest 9% above U.S.	$202,200±$16kLowest 39% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$969±$169 31% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S.	$4,932Highest 58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Highest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rupert 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.