Compare towns
Castle Hill vs Lancaster vs Mapleton vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castle Hill has the most affordable homes ($145k median).
Lancaster has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($210k 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 | Castle Hill | Lancaster | Mapleton | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 281Lowest |
2,230Highest |
1,884 |
378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±15.8Highest 49% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
55.5±8.6 43% above U.S. |
| Castle Hill and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 44.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.2%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±5.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,250±$14k 33% below U.S. |
$66,765±$20k 17% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$50,833±$31kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $145,300±$18kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$200,500±$24k 40% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$209,700±$30kHighest 37% below U.S. |
| Lowell and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$574 33% below U.S. |
$1,036±$221Highest 27% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— |
| Lancaster and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,449Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$4,225Highest 35% above U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,478 53% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
80%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| 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.