What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Topsham has the most homeowners (90.3%).

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	Topsham
People
Population	2,230Highest	999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average	50.1±5.9Highest 29% above U.S.
	Topsham 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 U.S.: 22%	18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Topsham 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 U.S.: 35.7%	28.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lancaster and Topsham 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.	$72,308±$60kHighest 10% below U.S.
	Topsham 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 40% below U.S.	$222,900±$56kHighest 33% below U.S.
	Topsham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,036±$221Highest 27% below U.S.	$908±$398Lowest 36% below U.S.
	Lancaster and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,225Highest 35% above U.S.	$4,006Lowest 28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	18.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Topsham 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	—	Waits River Union High District #36
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.