What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).

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	Strafford
People
Population	3,216Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.
	Strafford and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford and Lancaster 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%	22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lancaster and Strafford 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%	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford 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.	$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Strafford 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.	$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S.
	Strafford 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.	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford 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%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Strafford 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	Strafford School District
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.