What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).

North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k 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	North Hampton
People
Population	8,606Highest	4,543Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.	50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S.
	North Hampton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±4 U.S.: 22%	19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Hampton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lancaster and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,833±$27kLowest 67% above U.S.	$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S.
	North Hampton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S.	$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.	$1,805±$106Lowest 28% above U.S.
	Lancaster and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,235Lowest 132% above U.S.	$8,529Highest 173% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	2.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	25.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster and North Hampton 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	#145 of 282 in MA	#12 of 120 in NH
School district	Nashoba	North Hampton School District
High school in town	None 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.