What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

Carroll has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

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	Carroll
People
Population	3,216Highest	659Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH	62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH
Kids under 18	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%	7%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	39.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	35.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Lancaster and Carroll 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	$64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH
	Lancaster and Carroll 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	$261,500±$42kHighest 35% below NH
	Carroll 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	$1,078±$241Highest 28% below NH
	Carroll and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,226Highest 37% below NH	$3,356Lowest 50% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2%	28%±47.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lancaster and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH	1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 14% below NH	22 minLowest 19% below NH
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%	4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Lancaster and Carroll 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	—
High school 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.