What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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	Strafford	Lancaster
People
Population	1,372Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.	45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Strafford and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lancaster and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S.	$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S.
	Strafford and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.	$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S.	$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Strafford and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.	$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Strafford 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	Strafford 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

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.