What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).

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	Jackson
People
Population	3,216Highest	897Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+26%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH	60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH
Kids under 18	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%	4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1%	28.4%±6.4 NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	67.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%	3%±3.4Highest NH: 6%
	Jackson 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	$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH
	Jackson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH	$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH	$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH
	Jackson and Lancaster 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	$6,001Highest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2%	21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lancaster and Jackson 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%	16.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 14% below NH	19 minLowest 31% below NH
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8%
	Jackson 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	Jackson School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.