What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).

Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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	Strafford	Lancaster
People
Population	1,372Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Strafford and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Strafford and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S.	$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S.	$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,149Lowest 129% above U.S.	$7,235Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Lowest 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	Strafford 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.