Compare towns
Dorset vs Guildhall vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Guildhall has the youngest population (median age 42.6).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Dorset | Guildhall | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
371Lowest |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,625 48% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school 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.