What stands out worked out from the figures below

Randolph has the most expensive homes ($407k median).

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	Randolph	Lancaster
People
Population	420Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-8.2% NH: +4.6%
Median age	57.5±10.9Highest 33% above NH	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH
	Randolph and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.5%±6.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%	28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Randolph and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±3.7Highest NH: 6%	2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Randolph and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,750±$16kHighest about the NH average	$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH
	Randolph and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,000±$57kHighest about the NH average	$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,667±$215Highest 12% above NH	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,269Highest 36% below NH	$4,226Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±53.1Highest NH: 48.2%	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Randolph and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	16.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 16 yrs older than NH	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	23 minLowest 14% below NH
Work from home	19.5%±5.3Highest NH: 16.8%	11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Randolph 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
High school 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.