What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

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	Stoddard	Lancaster
People
Population	1,072Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53±4Highest 36% above U.S.	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stoddard and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stoddard and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S.	$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average	$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S.	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S.	$7,235Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#145 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoddard School District	Nashoba
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.