What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

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	Whitefield	Lancaster
People
Population	2,516Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.4±4.6Highest 19% above NH	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH
	Whitefield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.3%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.6%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1%	28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Whitefield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	30.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±3.2Highest NH: 6%	2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Whitefield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,125±$12kLowest 36% below NH	$68,911±$23kHighest 30% below NH
	Lancaster and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,400±$22kHighest 40% below NH	$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH
	Whitefield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,077±$160Highest 28% below NH	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH
	Whitefield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,394Highest 34% below NH	$4,226Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±15.6Highest NH: 48.2%	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Whitefield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Lowest NH: 7.2%	16.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 14 yrs older than NH	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the NH average	23 minLowest 14% below NH
Work from home	7.2%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Lancaster and Whitefield 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	#86 of 120 in NH	#107 of 120 in NH
School district	White Mountains Regional School District	White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town	White Mountains Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9	—
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.