Compare towns
Steuben vs Lancaster vs Gouldsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Steuben has the most affordable homes ($174k median).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Gouldsboro has the oldest population (median age 60.2).
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.
| Measure | Steuben | Lancaster | Gouldsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,388Lowest |
8,606Highest |
1,615 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±8.5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
60.2±5.2Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Steuben and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
38.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Steuben and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,466±$4k 5% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$60,873±$7kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,900±$32kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$276,800±$51k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $678±$319Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,298±$507 8% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Gouldsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,029Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$2,305 26% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±87.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
80.8%±28.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gouldsboro and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 24 | Nashoba | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.