What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).

Ashland has the most expensive homes ($227k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lancaster	Ashland
People
Population	2,230Highest	2,183Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.6±8.5Lowest 11% below NH	42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average
	Ashland and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.1%±8.2Highest NH: 18.2%	21.4%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1%
	Ashland and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	35.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±3Highest NH: 6%	2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Lancaster and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,765±$20kHighest 33% below NH	$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH
	Lancaster and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$200,500±$24kLowest 50% below NH	$227,000±$29kHighest 44% below NH
	Ashland and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,036±$221Lowest 31% below NH	$1,096±$155Highest 26% below NH
	Ashland and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,225Lowest 37% below NH	$4,961Highest 26% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±18.2Highest NH: 48.2%	39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lancaster and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	21.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below NH	26 minHighest 4% below NH
Work from home	10.6%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8%	9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Lancaster and Ashland 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	—	Ashland School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.