Compare towns
Jaffrey vs Acton vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jaffrey has the highest household income ($92k).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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.
| Measure | Jaffrey | Acton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,448Highest |
2,721Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±3.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| Acton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Jaffrey and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,330±$18kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Jaffrey and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,500±$27k 26% below U.S. |
$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$202Lowest 32% below U.S. |
— | $1,019±$263Highest 28% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,196Highest 99% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton 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 | #87 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Acton Public Schools | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Conant Middle High School (H) | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 21.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.