Compare towns
Jackson vs Lancaster vs Chatham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
Bordering JacksonBartlett
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Chatham has the most kids (21.4% 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.
| Measure | Jackson | Lancaster | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 897 |
3,216Highest |
430Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±7.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Chatham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±10Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±3.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Chatham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
$66,042±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
| Jackson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$362,900±$42k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
— |
| Jackson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,001Highest 10% below NH |
$4,226 37% below NH |
$3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Lancaster and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
16.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 31% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson 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 | Jackson 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 | 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.