What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chichester has the most affordable homes ($409k median).

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	Chichester	Lancaster
People
Population	2,745Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±3.3Lowest 11% above U.S.	43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Chichester and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lancaster and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chichester and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$109,297±$13kLowest 35% above U.S.	$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$409,300±$26kLowest 23% above U.S.	$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,055±$275Lowest 45% above U.S.	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,189Lowest 130% above U.S.	$7,235Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.6%±34.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than 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	19%±8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster and Chichester 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	#75 of 120 in NH	#145 of 282 in MA
School district	Chichester School District	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.