What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilsum has the most homeowners (93.5%).

Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% 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	Gilsum	Lancaster
People
Population	716Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.8±8.1Lowest 3% above NH	45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH
	Lancaster and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	30.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.3Highest NH: 6%	2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Gilsum and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,417±$7kHighest 19% below NH	$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH
	Gilsum and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$241,500±$32kHighest 40% below NH	$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH
	Gilsum and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH
	Gilsum and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,579Highest 16% below NH	$4,226Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2%	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Gilsum and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	16.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 7 yrs older than NH	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	23 minLowest 14% below NH
Work from home	11.9%±8.7Highest NH: 16.8%	11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Gilsum 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	Monadnock Regional School District	White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.