Compare towns
Benton vs Lancaster vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benton has the most homeowners (92.1%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (11.5%).
Lyman has the most expensive homes ($311k median).
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 | Benton | Lancaster | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 386Lowest |
3,216Highest |
464 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
60.8±6.5 40% above NH |
| Benton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.7%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.3%±12.5 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
38.6%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyman and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lancaster and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,895±$4kLowest 31% below NH |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
$71,042±$17kHighest 28% below NH |
| Lyman and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$46k 28% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$311,100±$66kHighest 23% below NH |
| Lyman and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,147±$81Highest 23% below NH |
| Lyman and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,922Lowest 56% below NH |
$4,226Highest 37% below NH |
$3,981 40% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
58.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Benton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.9% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
14.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
24 min 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lancaster and Lyman 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.