What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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	Wolfeboro
People
Population	3,216Lowest	6,571Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+2.3%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH	57±1.8Highest 32% above NH
Kids under 18	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%	13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Wolfeboro 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%Lowest NH: 40.6%	45%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6%	2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Lancaster and Wolfeboro 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	$94,375±$22kHighest 5% below NH
	Wolfeboro 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	$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH	$1,103±$76Highest 26% below NH
	Wolfeboro and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,226Lowest 37% below NH	$4,531Highest 32% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2%	12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lancaster and Wolfeboro 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%	8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	78.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below NH	24 minHighest 11% below NH
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Wolfeboro 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	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	White Mountains Regional School District	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.1
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.