Lancaster

Coos CountyNorth CountryPopulation: 3,218

Overview

Lancaster serves as a commercial hub for the North Country in Coos County, situated where the Israel and Connecticut rivers meet near the Vermont border. The town's historic downtown reflects its long-standing role as a county seat and regional trading center.

Lancaster's Main Street includes a mix of local businesses, government offices, and civic buildings, serving surrounding rural towns that lack their own commercial centers. The nearby Kilkenny Range and Connecticut River provide hiking, fishing, and paddling.

Housing in Lancaster remains affordable, reflecting the North Country's overall lower cost of living. The town draws families, retirees, and outdoor enthusiasts seeking a rural, small-city base for exploring the surrounding mountains and rivers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Regional hub
  • Affordable
  • River access
  • Mountain proximity

Cons

  • Remote location
  • Limited jobs
  • Harsh winters

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Lancaster.

2025 Local Tax Rate
$21.07
per $1,000 assessed value
2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate
$16.98
Equalization ratio: 81%
Municipal
$8.24
Local School
$8.69
State Education
$1.14
County
$3.00

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

YearTotal RateEffective RateMunicipalLocal SchoolState Ed.County
2025$21.07$16.98$8.24$8.69$1.14$3.00

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home ValueEstimated Annual TaxEstimated Monthly
$250,000$5,268$439
$350,000$7,375$615
$500,000$10,535$878
$750,000$15,803$1,317
$1,000,000$21,070$1,756

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $21.07 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High
76.2°F
Winter Avg High
31°F
Annual Snowfall
67.5 in
Annual Rainfall
46.5 in
Sunny Days/Year
239
Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5Updated 7/4/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston
169 mi
~203 min drive
Manchester
119 mi
~145 min drive
Portsmouth
161 mi
~194 min drive
Concord
102 mi
~124 min drive
Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMapUpdated 7/3/2026

Safety & Crime

Safety Score
9/10
Crime Rate
6.84/1,000
Crime Trend
stable

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score
44/100
Trail Miles
70.4
0
Boat Launches
2
State Parks
1
0

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:44 miles
XC Ski Trails:0 miles
Campgrounds:1

Economy & Demographics

💰Income

Median Household Income
$75,493
Per Capita Income
$36,777
Median Family Income
$92,500

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value
$187,800
Median Rent
$766/mo
Homeownership Rate
77.78%

💼Employment

Unemployment Rate
3.21%
In Labor Force
1,650
Work From Home
0.13%

🎓Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.8%
Total with Degree
391

🚗Commute

Work From Home
0.13%

👥Demographics

Median Age
44.7 years
Avg Household Size
2.34 people
Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year)Census Data Year: 2022Updated 7/3/2026

Compare Lancaster with Other Towns

See how Lancaster stacks up against other NH communities.