What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carroll has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% 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	Carroll	Lancaster
People
Population	659Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH
Kids under 18	7%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	39.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1%	28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6%
	Lancaster and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH	$68,911±$23kHighest 30% below NH
	Lancaster and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$261,500±$42kHighest 35% below NH	$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH
	Carroll and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$241Highest 28% below NH	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH
	Carroll and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,356Lowest 50% below NH	$4,226Highest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28%±47.5Lowest NH: 48.2%	36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2%
	Lancaster and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%	16.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 19% below NH	23 minHighest 14% below NH
Work from home	4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Lancaster and Carroll 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	—	#107 of 120 in NH
School district	—	White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.