Compare towns
Athens vs Lancaster vs Readsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Readsboro has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Athens | Lancaster | Readsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
3,216Highest |
807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
50.7±3.9Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Readsboro and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athens and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30k 15% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$55,268±$12kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
$215,500±$52kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Athens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$724±$32Lowest 49% below U.S. |
| Athens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Highest 74% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$3,480Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.4%±24.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Lancaster 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 | — | White Mountains Regional School District | Readsboro School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.