What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).

Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

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	Lowell
People
Population	3,216Highest	1,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S.	32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Lancaster and Lowell 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%	30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lowell 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%	12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lancaster and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,911±$23kHighest 15% below U.S.	$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below U.S.
	Lancaster and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$215,700±$24kHighest 35% below U.S.	$183,400±$33kLowest 45% below U.S.
	Lancaster and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263Highest 28% below U.S.	$945±$46Lowest 33% below U.S.
	Lancaster and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,226Highest 35% above U.S.	$2,810Lowest 10% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%	26.3%±92.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Lowell 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%	9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	55 minHighest 109% above U.S.
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster and Lowell 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	Lowell School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.