Compare towns
Jefferson vs Whitefield 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
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Whitefield | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
2,516 |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 34% above NH |
51.4±4.6 19% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
| Jefferson and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Whitefield 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% |
28.6%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Jefferson and Whitefield 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% |
26.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Whitefield 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 32% below NH |
$63,125±$12kLowest 36% below NH |
$68,911±$23kHighest 30% below NH |
| 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 26% below NH |
$240,400±$22k 40% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Jefferson and Whitefield 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 |
$1,077±$160Highest 28% below NH |
$1,019±$263 32% below NH |
| Whitefield 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 |
$4,394Highest 34% below NH |
$4,226 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.9%±15.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
| Whitefield 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 NH: 7.2% |
11% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1965 14 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 29% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 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 | — | #86 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | White Mountains Regional School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | White Mountains Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— |
| 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.