What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).

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	Hope	Lancaster
People
Population	1,748Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S.	45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hope and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lancaster and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S.	$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S.
	Hope and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S.	$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S.	$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Hope and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,842Lowest 23% above U.S.	$4,226Highest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±38.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hope and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hope 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	Hope Public Schools	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

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.