What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most people working from home (11.5%).

Lyman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).

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	Lyman
People
Population	3,216Highest	464Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH	60.8±6.5Highest 40% above NH
Kids under 18	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±6.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	38.6%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	27.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6%	1.5%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Lancaster and Lyman 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	$71,042±$17kHighest 28% below NH
	Lyman 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	$311,100±$66kHighest 23% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH	$1,147±$81Highest 23% below NH
	Lyman and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,226Highest 37% below NH	$3,981Lowest 40% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%	58.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Lyman 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%	14.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	89.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below NH	24 minHighest 10% below NH
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%	3.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Lancaster and Lyman 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.