What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

Lancaster has the highest household income ($135k).

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	Stowe	Lancaster
People
Population	5,285Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S.	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Stowe and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Stowe and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stowe and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lancaster and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S.	$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S.	$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S.
	Stowe and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S.	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S.	$7,235Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	24.4%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster and Stowe 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	Stowe Town School District	Nashoba
High school in town	Stowe High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3	—
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.