What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).

Lancaster has the most kids (17.8% under 18).

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	Worcester	Lancaster
People
Population	831Lowest	10,113Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S.	45.1±4.7Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Worcester and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lancaster and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Worcester and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below U.S.	$66,148±$7kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Worcester and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,100±$27kHighest 19% below U.S.	$202,200±$16kLowest 39% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,023±$136Highest 28% below U.S.	$969±$169Lowest 31% below U.S.
	Worcester and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S.	$4,932Highest 58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.
Work from home	23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92	—
High school 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.