What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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	Dorchester
People
Population	3,216Highest	410Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2% NH: +4.6%	—
Median age	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH	56±10.5Highest 29% above NH
	Dorchester 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%	11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Dorchester and Lancaster 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%	35.8%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6%	0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Lancaster and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,911±$23k 30% below NH	—
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$215,700±$24kHighest 46% below NH	$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH
	Lancaster and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263 32% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,226Highest 37% below NH	$3,779Lowest 43% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lancaster and Dorchester 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%	18.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.3%Highest 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 minLowest 14% below NH	40 minHighest 50% above NH
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	12.2%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Dorchester and Lancaster 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.