Compare towns
Guildhall vs Mapleton vs Penobscot 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
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 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 | Guildhall | Mapleton | Penobscot | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 371Lowest |
1,884 |
1,154 |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| Penobscot and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Guildhall and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot and Lancaster 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% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $321,200±$62kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$717 40% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,625Highest 48% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$1,852 41% below U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Penobscot 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Penobscot 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Penobscot Public Schools | White Mountains Regional School District |
| 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.