What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).

Marshfield has the most people working from home (17.5%).

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	Marshfield
People
Population	3,216Highest	470Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S.	42.4±8.8Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22%	19.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Marshfield 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%	10.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	35.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Marshfield 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.	$84,375±$20kHighest 5% above U.S.
	Marshfield 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±$24kHighest 35% below U.S.	$178,300±$31kLowest 46% below U.S.
	Lancaster and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,125±$79Highest 20% below U.S.
	Marshfield and Lancaster 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.	$3,269Lowest 5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.4%±62.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Marshfield 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%	4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Highest 38 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Marshfield 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.