What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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	Exeter
People
Population	3,216Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH	45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH
	Exeter 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%	17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Exeter 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%	24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Lancaster and Exeter 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%	59.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%	6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6%
	Exeter 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±$23kLowest 30% below NH	$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH	$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH	$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,226Lowest 37% below NH	$8,814Highest 32% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%	59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Exeter 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%	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH	1979Highest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below NH	25 minHighest 7% below NH
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Exeter 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	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	White Mountains Regional School District	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	None in town	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	59 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.