Compare towns
Lancaster vs Ossipee vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Ossipee has the most expensive homes ($326k median).
Ashland has the most renters (35.9% rent).
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 | Lancaster | Ossipee | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,230 |
4,521Highest |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.6±8.5Lowest 11% below NH |
50±4.6Highest 15% above NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
| Ossipee and Ashland 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% |
19.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 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% |
26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Ossipee and Ashland 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% |
24.8% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lancaster and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,765±$20k 33% below NH |
$90,521±$22kHighest 9% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Ossipee and Lancaster 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 |
$325,500±$23kHighest 19% below NH |
$227,000±$29k 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$221Lowest 31% below NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
$1,096±$155 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,225Lowest 37% below NH |
$4,401 34% below NH |
$4,961Highest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±18.2 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% NH: 72.8% |
82%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.