What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the most expensive homes ($363k median).

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	Holderness	Lancaster
People
Population	1,917Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH	45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH
	Lancaster and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1%	28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Holderness and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%	2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6%
	Lancaster and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,863±$45kHighest 9% above NH	$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH
	Holderness and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,100±$60kHighest 10% below NH	$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,923Lowest 41% below NH	$4,226Highest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2%
	Lancaster and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	16.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer 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	9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Lancaster and Holderness 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	Holderness 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

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.