Compare towns
Jaffrey vs Durham vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jaffrey has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,448 |
10,681Highest |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±3.9 about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
| Lancaster and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Jaffrey and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.8 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.2% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.4 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,330±$18k 7% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
| Durham and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,500±$27k 39% below NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
$1,302±$211Highest 13% below NH |
$1,019±$263 32% below NH |
| Durham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,196 7% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±23 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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 NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 8% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | — | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Conant Middle High School (H) | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 21.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.