What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).

Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.3%).

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	Springfield
People
Population	3,216Lowest	9,084Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S.	43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Springfield 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%	18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Springfield 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%	23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lancaster and Springfield 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 U.S.: 35.7%	23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lancaster and Springfield 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 15% below U.S.	$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Lancaster and Springfield 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.	$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S.
	Lancaster and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263Highest 28% below U.S.	$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S.
	Lancaster and Springfield 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.	$4,807Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Springfield 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%	14.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.	1958Highest 22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	27 minHighest 3% above U.S.
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Springfield 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	#64 of 70 in VT
School district	White Mountains Regional School District	River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District
High school in town	None in town	Springfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.3
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.