What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rowe has the most expensive homes ($275k median).

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	Rowe	Lancaster
People
Population	453Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-8.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±6.4Highest 26% above U.S.	45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Rowe and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rowe and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	28.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rowe and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rowe and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,583±$13kHighest 14% below U.S.	$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S.
	Rowe and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$275,000±$41kHighest 17% below U.S.	$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S.
	Rowe and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,313±$576Highest 7% below U.S.	$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Rowe and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,458Lowest 53% below U.S.	$4,226Highest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	11.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	36.1%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	7.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster and Rowe 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	Rowe	White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.