What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k 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	Springfield
People
Population	2,230Highest	1,122Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.6±8.5Lowest 11% below NH	51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH
	Springfield 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%	15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Springfield 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%	19.8%±1.6Highest NH: 20.1%
	Springfield 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%	36.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±3Highest NH: 6%	0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%
	Lancaster and Springfield 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 33% below NH	$100,893±$19kHighest about the NH average
	Springfield 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	$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,036±$221Lowest 31% below NH	$1,096±$217Highest 26% below NH
	Springfield 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	$5,946Highest 11% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±18.2Highest NH: 48.2%	25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lancaster and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below NH	34 minHighest 29% above NH
Work from home	10.6%±6.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.7%±11.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Springfield 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	—
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.