What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dalton has the most homeowners (82.7%).

Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).

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	Dalton	Lancaster
People
Population	916Lowest	2,230Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+12.5%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.5±12.9Highest about the NH average	38.6±8.5Lowest 11% below NH
	Dalton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±11.3Lowest NH: 18.2%	25.1%±8.2Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1%	19.6%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Lancaster and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%	23.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4.3Highest NH: 6%	3.5%±3Lowest NH: 6%
	Dalton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,429±$36kHighest 18% below NH	$66,765±$20kLowest 33% below NH
	Dalton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$191,400±$68kLowest 52% below NH	$200,500±$24kHighest 50% below NH
	Lancaster and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$900±$825Lowest 40% below NH	$1,036±$221Highest 31% below NH
	Lancaster and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,561Lowest 47% below NH	$4,225Highest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±83.7Highest NH: 48.2%	41.2%±18.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Dalton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	19.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	65.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 26% below NH	20 minLowest 26% below NH
Work from home	5.9%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	10.6%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Lancaster and Dalton 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
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.