Compare towns
Barton vs Guildhall vs Lancaster vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Orleans has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | Barton | Guildhall | Lancaster | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
371Lowest |
3,216Highest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.7±5.8 7% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orleans and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$57,159±$10k 29% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$321,200±$62kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
$156,300±$18k 53% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$850±$717 40% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Highest 28% below U.S. |
$810±$94 43% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 about the U.S. average |
$4,625Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$3,019Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Highest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | — | White Mountains Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.