Compare towns
Jefferson vs Lancaster vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the oldest population (median age 58).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Lancaster | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
3,216Highest |
2,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 34% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Sutton 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±$13kLowest 32% below NH |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92k 26% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$362,600±$16kHighest 10% below NH |
| Sutton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
$1,019±$263 32% below NH |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196Lowest 37% below NH |
$4,226 37% below NH |
$7,652Highest 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Lancaster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 29% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Jefferson and Sutton 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 | — | White Mountains Regional School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.