Compare towns
Jaffrey vs New Ipswich 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
New Ipswich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
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 | New Ipswich | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,448Highest |
5,310 |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±3.9 about the NH average |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% 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%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Jaffrey 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% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.2% NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Jaffrey and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,330±$18k 7% below NH |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
| New Ipswich 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 |
$392,400±$31kHighest about the NH average |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$202 35% below NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,019±$263Highest 32% below NH |
| 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 7% below NH |
$5,647 15% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±23 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| New Ipswich 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 | #82 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Mascenic Regional School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Conant Middle High School (H) | Mascenic Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 21.3Highest |
11.7Lowest |
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| 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.