What stands out worked out from the figures below

Raymond has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).

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	Raymond	Lancaster
People
Population	10,900Highest	3,216Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.4±3.8Lowest about the NH average	45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH
	Lancaster and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1%	28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	30.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6%	2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Raymond and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,597±$10kHighest 6% above NH	$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$370,400±$17kHighest 8% below NH	$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,376±$196Highest 8% below NH	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH
	Raymond and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,146Highest 8% below NH	$4,226Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.1%±11.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2%
	Lancaster and Raymond 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	85.8%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above NH	23 minLowest 14% below NH
Work from home	9.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Lancaster and Raymond 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	#96 of 120 in NH	#107 of 120 in NH
School district	Raymond School District	White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town	Raymond High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2	—
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.