Compare towns
Chatham vs Lancaster vs Jackson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).
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.
| Measure | Chatham | Lancaster | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
3,216Highest |
897 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Chatham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
| Chatham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
| Jackson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42k 10% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
| Jackson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$4,226 37% below NH |
$6,001Highest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lancaster and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.7% NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson and Lancaster 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 | Jackson School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.