Compare towns
Colrain vs Guildhall vs Lancaster vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k 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 | Colrain | Guildhall | Lancaster | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
371Lowest |
3,216Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Guildhall and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Guildhall and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,625Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Oakham 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 | Mohawk Trail | — | White Mountains Regional School District | Quabbin |
| 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 | 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.