Compare towns
Dalton vs Lancaster vs Croydon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Croydon has the most expensive homes ($317k 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 | Dalton | Lancaster | Croydon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 916 |
2,230Highest |
798Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.5±12.9Highest about the NH average |
38.6±8.5Lowest 11% below NH |
43±9.1 about the NH average |
| Dalton and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±11.3 NH: 18.2% |
25.1%±8.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
19%±6.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Croydon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
23.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±3.3 NH: 6% |
| Dalton and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,429±$36k 18% below NH |
$66,765±$20kLowest 33% below NH |
$98,333±$21kHighest about the NH average |
| Croydon and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,400±$68kLowest 52% below NH |
$200,500±$24k 50% below NH |
$317,300±$33kHighest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$825Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,036±$221Highest 31% below NH |
$991±$336 34% below NH |
| Lancaster and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,561Lowest 47% below NH |
$4,225Highest 37% below NH |
$3,806 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±83.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±18.2 NH: 48.2% |
7.1%±75.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dalton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
19.2% NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% NH: 72.8% |
65.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below NH |
20 minLowest 26% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 5.9%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
10.6%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lancaster and Dalton 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 | — | — | Croydon 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.