What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stockbridge has the most people working from home (52.4%).

Lancaster has the most kids (19.2% under 18).

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	Stockbridge	Lancaster
People
Population	2,056Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	63.7±3.5Highest 59% above MA	43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA
Kids under 18	8.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	47%±7.5Highest MA: 17.9%	19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9%	3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Stockbridge and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,250±$67kHighest 41% above MA	$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA
	Stockbridge and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$600,000±$99kHighest 7% above MA	$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA
	Stockbridge and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$858±$375Lowest 51% below MA	$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,652Lowest 22% below MA	$7,235Highest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.8%±27Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest MA: 10%	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%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	20 minLowest 33% below MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	52.4%±19.9Highest MA: 18.6%	33.6%±9.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Stockbridge 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	—	#145 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Nashoba
High school 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.