Compare towns
Chichester vs Lancaster vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chichester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Andover has the most affordable homes ($367k 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 | Chichester | Lancaster | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,745 |
8,606Highest |
2,135Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±3.3Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
46±11.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Andover and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chichester and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chichester and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,297±$13k 35% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$88,514±$27kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,300±$26k 23% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$366,500±$44kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,055±$275 45% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,211±$190Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,189 130% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,962Lowest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±34.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Chichester 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 | #75 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Chichester School District | Nashoba | Andover School District |
| High school in town | None 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.