What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilman has the most affordable homes ($99k median).

Lancaster has the most kids (25.1% 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	Gilman	Lancaster
People
Population	165Lowest	2,230Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+12.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.2±6Highest 44% above U.S.	38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	0%±17.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Gilman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.1%±16.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gilman and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	23.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±7.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Gilman and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,788±$32kLowest 28% below U.S.	$66,765±$20kHighest 17% below U.S.
	Lancaster and Gilman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$98,500±$46kLowest 70% below U.S.	$200,500±$24kHighest 40% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,279±$700Highest 9% below U.S.	$1,036±$221Lowest 27% below U.S.
	Gilman and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,806Lowest 10% below U.S.	$4,225Highest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.9%±69.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.2%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gilman and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	65.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 42 yrs older than U.S.	1938 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	—	20 min 25% below U.S.
Work from home	0%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster and Gilman 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

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.