Compare towns
Lancaster vs Milton vs Ossipee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Milton has the most people working from home (18.9%).
Ossipee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
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.
| Measure | Lancaster | Milton | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Lowest |
4,538Highest |
4,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
45.7±2.4 6% above NH |
50±4.6Highest 15% above NH |
| Ossipee and Milton 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% |
18.4%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Ossipee 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% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Ossipee 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% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
24.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$94,493±$27kHighest 5% below NH |
$90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
| Milton and Ossipee 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 |
$318,400±$34k 21% below NH |
$325,500±$23kHighest 19% below NH |
| Ossipee and Milton 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 |
$1,587±$318 6% above NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
| Ossipee and Milton 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 |
$5,663Highest 15% below NH |
$4,401 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Milton 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% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Milton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Nute High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.