What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

Lancaster has the most people working from home (11.5%).

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	Marlow	Lancaster
People
Population	855Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	52.8±11.7Highest 22% above NH	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH
	Marlow and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1%	28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Marlow and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.2Highest NH: 6%	2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Marlow and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH	$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,400±$49kHighest 19% below NH	$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,154±$160Highest 23% below NH	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH
	Marlow and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,826Highest 13% below NH	$4,226Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2%
	Lancaster and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	16.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above NH	23 minLowest 14% below NH
Work from home	0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#107 of 120 in NH
School district	Marlow 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.