What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most people working from home (11.5%).

Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 53.7).

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	Colebrook
People
Population	3,216Highest	1,988Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH	53.7±4.9Highest 24% above NH
	Colebrook and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%	13.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Colebrook 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%	27.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Lancaster and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Colebrook and Lancaster 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	$51,159±$6kLowest 48% below NH
	Lancaster and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$215,700±$24kHighest 46% below NH	$192,200±$59kLowest 52% below NH
	Lancaster and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263Highest 32% below NH	$750±$238Lowest 50% below NH
	Lancaster and Colebrook 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	$4,350Highest 35% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%	50.3%±19.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Colebrook and Lancaster 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%	13.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	69.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH	1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 14% below NH	21 minLowest 21% below NH
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%	5.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Lancaster and Colebrook 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	Colebrook School District
High school in town	None in town	Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H)
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.