Compare towns
Jaffrey vs Mapleton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,448Highest |
1,884Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±3.9 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Jaffrey and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Jaffrey and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,500±$27kHighest 26% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
| Jaffrey and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$202 32% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±23Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jaffrey and Lancaster 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Mapleton 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 History | 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.