What stands out worked out from the figures below

Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).

Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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	Halifax	Lancaster
People
Population	847Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S.	45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Halifax and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lancaster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lancaster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S.	$68,911±$23kHighest 15% below U.S.
	Lancaster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,500±$21kHighest 20% below U.S.	$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,019±$263Highest 28% below U.S.
	Lancaster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,991Highest 60% above U.S.	$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Halifax and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#107 of 120 in NH
School district	Halifax School District	White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.