What stands out worked out from the figures below

Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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	Troy	Lancaster
People
Population	1,749Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S.	45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Troy and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lancaster and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S.	$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S.
	Troy and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$233,200±$21kHighest 30% below U.S.	$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S.
	Troy and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S.	$1,019±$263Highest 28% below U.S.
	Lancaster and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,644Lowest 17% above U.S.	$4,226Highest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	36.1%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%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	24 minHighest 9% below U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster and Troy 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	Troy School District	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.