What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northumberland has the most affordable homes ($120k median).

Lancaster has the most expensive 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	Northumberland	Lancaster
People
Population	1,815Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.7±6.2Highest 6% above NH	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH
	Northumberland and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Lancaster and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	30.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%	2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6%
	Lancaster and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$40,268±$7kLowest 59% below NH	$68,911±$23kHighest 30% below NH
	Lancaster and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$120,100±$15kLowest 70% below NH	$215,700±$24kHighest 46% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,018±$96Lowest 32% below NH	$1,019±$263Highest 32% below NH
	Lancaster and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,794Lowest 58% below NH	$4,226Highest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.7%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2%	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	23.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	16.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 19 yrs older than NH	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 33% below NH	23 minHighest 14% below NH
Work from home	11.3%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Lancaster and Northumberland 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	Northumberland School District	White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town	Groveton High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.6	—
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.