What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k 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	Ossipee
People
Population	8,606Highest	4,521Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.	50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S.
	Ossipee and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ossipee and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ossipee 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	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	$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S.	$90,521±$22kLowest 12% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S.	$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.	$1,601±$245Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,235Highest 132% above U.S.	$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.3%±36.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ossipee and Lancaster 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%	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.	33 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#145 of 282 in MA	#100 of 120 in NH
School district	Nashoba	Governor Wentworth Regional 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.