What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the most affordable homes ($363k median).

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	Wayne	Lancaster
People
Population	1,101Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S.	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wayne and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,194±$26kLowest 15% above U.S.	$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S.	$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S.	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S.	$7,235Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%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	30 minLowest 15% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	26.2%±11.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster and Wayne 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	RSU 38	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.