Compare towns
Jefferson vs Appleton 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
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% 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 | Jefferson | Appleton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
1,360 |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13k 17% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196 35% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson 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 | — | Appleton Public Schools | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.