What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).

Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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	Marlborough	Lancaster
People
Population	2,207Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46±9.2Highest 6% above NH	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH
	Marlborough and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.5%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2%	20.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Marlborough and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Lancaster and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%	2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6%
	Lancaster and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,032±$9kHighest 30% below NH	$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH
	Marlborough and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,200±$35kHighest 34% below NH	$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH
	Marlborough and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,133±$323Highest 24% below NH	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH
	Marlborough and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,362Highest 5% below NH	$4,226Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2%	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Marlborough and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	16.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below NH	23 minHighest 14% below NH
Work from home	12.3%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%	11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Marlborough 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	Marlborough School District	White Mountains Regional 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.