What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stark has the oldest population (median age 58.8).

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	Stark
People
Population	3,216Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-14%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH	58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH
Kids under 18	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±6.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Stark 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%	27.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Lancaster and Stark 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%	17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%	3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6%
	Stark 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 30% below NH	$71,750±$23kHighest 28% below NH
	Stark 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±$24kHighest 46% below NH	$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH
	Lancaster and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263 32% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,226Highest 37% below NH	$2,636Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Stark 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%	8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH	1968Highest 11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below NH	34 minHighest 27% above NH
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Stark 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	Stark School District
High school in town	None 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.