What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sherborn has the most expensive homes ($1027k median).

Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k 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	Sherborn	Lancaster
People
Population	4,427Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±2.3Lowest 7% above MA	43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA
	Lancaster and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4%	19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.3%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Lancaster and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	82.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Sherborn and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$250,001Highest 140% above MA	$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,026,800±$72kHighest 83% above MA	$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,338±$316 33% above MA	$2,338±$539 33% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$7,235Lowest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±26.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster and Sherborn 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	89.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 21% above MA	32 minLowest 9% above MA
Work from home	49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6%	33.6%±9.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Sherborn and Lancaster 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	#53 of 282 in MA	#145 of 282 in MA
School district	Sherborn	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.