Compare towns
Jefferson vs Unity vs Lancaster vs Carroll
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 most people working from home (17.5%).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Carroll has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Unity | Lancaster | Carroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,013 |
1,375 |
3,216Highest |
659Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58±3.5 34% above NH |
58±4.5 34% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH |
| Carroll and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
7%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Carroll and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4% NH: 40.6% |
21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
35.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Lancaster and Jefferson 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 32% below NH |
$87,500±$16kHighest 12% below NH |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
$64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH |
| Unity and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92kHighest 26% below NH |
$276,100±$29k 31% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$261,500±$42k 35% below NH |
| Jefferson and Unity 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 |
$1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
$1,019±$263 32% below NH |
$1,078±$241 28% below NH |
| Unity and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196 37% below NH |
$5,394Highest 19% below NH |
$4,226 37% below NH |
$3,356Lowest 50% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
28%±47.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Unity and Lancaster 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% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 29% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
22 minLowest 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | Unity School District | White Mountains Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.