Compare towns
Dummer vs Lancaster vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummer has the highest household income ($91k).
Lancaster has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Columbia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Dummer | Lancaster | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 299Lowest |
3,216Highest |
683 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-12.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 24% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
51.8±10.1 20% above NH |
| Dummer and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1% |
29.9%±8.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Columbia and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.9% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
14.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±5.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
7%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Columbia and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$21kHighest 8% below NH |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
$57,917±$13kLowest 42% below NH |
| Dummer and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,200±$51kHighest 40% below NH |
$215,700±$24k 46% below NH |
$196,400±$29kLowest 51% below NH |
| Dummer and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,019±$263Highest 32% below NH |
$792±$333Lowest 47% below NH |
| Lancaster and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,898 57% below NH |
$4,226Highest 37% below NH |
$2,009Lowest 70% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2% |
9.1%±95.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Lancaster and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 6.8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.2%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lancaster and Columbia 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 | — | White Mountains Regional 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.