Compare towns
Washington vs Lempster vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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.
| Measure | Washington | Lempster | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208Highest |
953Lowest |
1,013 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.1% NH: +4.6% |
-5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55±4.7 27% above NH |
50.8±7.2Lowest 17% above NH |
58±3.5Highest 34% above NH |
| Jefferson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Washington and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29%±3 NH: 20.1% |
25.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±9.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Jefferson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5% NH: 40.6% |
28.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5 NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lempster and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,453±$12kHighest 10% below NH |
$86,607±$12k 13% below NH |
$67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH |
| Washington and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,600±$32kHighest 11% below NH |
$241,900±$29kLowest 40% below NH |
$296,700±$92k 26% below NH |
| Washington and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$160Highest 26% below NH |
— | $867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
| Washington and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,321 35% below NH |
$4,558Highest 32% below NH |
$4,196Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±71.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Lempster and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% NH: 72.8% |
98.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 33% above NH |
37 minHighest 40% above NH |
35 minLowest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.3 NH: 16.8% |
5%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Jefferson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington School District | Lempster School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.