What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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	Milton
People
Population	3,216Highest	356Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH	56.5±11.3Highest 30% above NH
	Milton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%	10.1%±13.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1%	13.2%±14.3Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Lancaster and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	16.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%	8.7%±14.3Highest NH: 6%
	Milton 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±$23kHighest 30% below NH	$48,125±$21kLowest 51% below NH
	Lancaster and Milton 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	$240,400±$53kHighest 40% below NH
	Milton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH	$1,245±$212Highest 16% below NH
	Milton 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	$3,517Lowest 47% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%	85.1%±34.6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Milton 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%	9.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	66.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Highest 37 yrs older than NH	1941Lowest 38 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below NH	27 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	19.1%±14.1Highest NH: 16.8%
	Milton 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	#116 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.