What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the highest household income ($69k).

Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (-6.6%).

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	Ashland
People
Population	3,216Highest	2,183Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	-6.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH	42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average
	Lancaster and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Ashland and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1%	25.8%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Lancaster and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	35.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6%	2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Lancaster and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,911±$23kHighest 30% below NH	$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH
	Lancaster and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH	$227,000±$29kHighest 44% below NH
	Ashland and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH	$1,096±$155Highest 26% below NH
	Ashland and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,226Lowest 37% below NH	$4,961Highest 26% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%	39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	Ashland and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	21.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below NH	26 minHighest 4% below NH
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%	9.9%±4.6Lowest 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	—
School district	White Mountains Regional School District	Ashland School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.