What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratford has the oldest population (median age 49.8).

Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).

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	Stratford	Lancaster
People
Population	950Lowest	2,230Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.3%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+12.5%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.8±16.8Highest 15% above NH	38.6±8.5Lowest 11% below NH
	Stratford and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±7.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	25.1%±8.2Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±9.3Highest NH: 20.1%	19.6%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Stratford and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	23.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2.7Lowest NH: 6%	3.5%±3Highest NH: 6%
	Lancaster and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$49,583±$14kLowest 50% below NH	$66,765±$20kHighest 33% below NH
	Lancaster and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$161,100±$48kLowest 60% below NH	$200,500±$24kHighest 50% below NH
	Lancaster and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$775±$264Lowest 48% below NH	$1,036±$221Highest 31% below NH
	Lancaster and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,512Lowest 62% below NH	$4,225Highest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64%±53.6Highest NH: 48.2%	41.2%±18.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Stratford and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	19.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	65.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 7 yrs older than NH	1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 16% below NH	20 minLowest 26% below NH
Work from home	8.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	10.6%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Lancaster and Stratford 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	Stratford 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.