What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 53.7).

Lancaster has the most people working from home (11.5%).

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	Colebrook	Lancaster
People
Population	1,988Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	-8.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53.7±4.9Highest 24% above NH	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH
	Colebrook and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Lancaster and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%	30.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Colebrook and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,159±$6kLowest 48% below NH	$68,911±$23kHighest 30% below NH
	Lancaster and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$192,200±$59kLowest 52% below NH	$215,700±$24kHighest 46% below NH
	Lancaster and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$750±$238Lowest 50% below NH	$1,019±$263Highest 32% below NH
	Lancaster and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,350Highest 35% below NH	$4,226Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±19.3Highest NH: 48.2%	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Colebrook and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	16.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below NH	23 minHighest 14% below NH
Work from home	5.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Lancaster and Colebrook 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	Colebrook School District	White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town	Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H)	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.