What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).

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	Fairfax
People
Population	3,216Lowest	5,226Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S.	38.8±3.3Lowest about the U.S. average
	Lancaster and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Fairfax and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fairfax 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 15% below U.S.	$128,963±$29kHighest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S.	$378,200±$22kHighest 14% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,080±$131Highest 24% below U.S.
	Fairfax and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S.	$5,497Highest 76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	43.3%±33.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fairfax 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 U.S.: 12.5%	5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.	1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#107 of 120 in NH	#36 of 70 in VT
School district	White Mountains Regional School District	Fairfax School District
High school in town	None in town	Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax)
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.