What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).

Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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	Reading
People
Population	3,216Highest	699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S.	51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S.
	Reading 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 U.S.: 22%	18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Reading 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%	28.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lancaster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Reading 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.	$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S.
	Reading 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 35% below U.S.	$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S.
	Reading and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S.	$5,754Highest 84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Reading 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%	8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.	1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Reading 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	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town	None 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.