What stands out worked out from the figures below

Warren has the oldest population (median age 52).

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	Warren	Lancaster
People
Population	1,415Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52±5Highest 34% above U.S.	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Warren and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Warren and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.6%±9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Warren and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,583±$33kLowest 67% above U.S.	$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$450,000±$38kLowest 35% above U.S.	$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$2,338±$539 65% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,769Lowest 21% above U.S.	$7,235Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.2%±63.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%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	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 19% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	15.9%±2.7Lowest 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	Regional School District 20	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.