What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most kids (25.1% under 18).

Bolton has the most people working from home (22.9%).

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	Bolton
People
Population	2,230Highest	1,163Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.6±8.5Highest about the U.S. average	36.3±1.7Lowest 7% below U.S.
	Lancaster and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22%	14.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	6.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	58.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lancaster and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S.	$111,125±$17kHighest 38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S.	$311,600±$42kHighest 6% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,036±$221Lowest 27% below U.S.	$1,299±$273Highest 8% below U.S.
	Bolton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,225Lowest 35% above U.S.	$4,826Highest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	28%±30.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bolton 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	—	Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.