Compare towns
Athens vs Lancaster vs Waterville
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Waterville has the most homeowners (79.9%).
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 | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
3,216Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Waterville 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27kHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Lancaster 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±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Athens and Waterville 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±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
| Athens and Waterville 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. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Athens 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%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 min 36% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.