Compare towns

Guildhall vs Lancaster vs Strafford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Guildhall has the youngest population (median age 42.6).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Strafford has the most people working from home (16.1%).

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.

MeasureGuildhallLancasterStrafford
People
Population
371Lowest
3,216Highest
1,372
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±7.8Lowest
10% above U.S.
45.5±6.9
17% above U.S.
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
Strafford and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.6%±7.5
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Strafford and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.1%±5.5
U.S.: 17.2%
28.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.4Lowest
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+
33.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
30.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.1%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Strafford and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$115,000±$46kHighest
42% above U.S.
$68,911±$23kLowest
15% below U.S.
$110,833±$19k
37% above U.S.
Guildhall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$321,200±$62k
3% below U.S.
$215,700±$24kLowest
35% below U.S.
$431,300±$40kHighest
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$850±$717Lowest
40% below U.S.
$1,019±$263
28% below U.S.
$1,125±$789Highest
20% below U.S.
Strafford and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,625
48% above U.S.
$4,226Lowest
35% above U.S.
$7,149Highest
129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
75%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±48
U.S.: 51.1%
Guildhall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958
22 yrs older than U.S.
1942Lowest
38 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minHighest
5% below U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
Work from home
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Strafford and Lancaster 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 Strafford 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.