What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the oldest population (median age 45.5).

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Durham
People
Population	3,216Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH	20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH
Kids under 18	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%	10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1%	11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%	55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH	$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH	$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH	$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,226Lowest 37% below NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2%
	Durham 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%	15.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 14% below NH	19 minLowest 27% below NH
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Durham 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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	White Mountains Regional School District	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	None in town	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	51 photos →

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.