What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lancaster	Monroe
People
Population	3,216Highest	786Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH	51±10.4Highest 18% above NH
	Monroe and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2%	20.9%±7.6 NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	30.3%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	Monroe and Lancaster 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%	25.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6%	1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Lancaster and Monroe 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	$88,150±$7kHighest 11% below NH
	Monroe 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	$312,700±$58kHighest 22% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH	$1,104±$218Highest 26% below NH
	Monroe 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	$2,661Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%	48%±39Highest NH: 48.2%
	Monroe 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%	5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	88.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH	1977Highest 2 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%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%	3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Lancaster and Monroe 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	Monroe School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.