Compare towns
Guildhall vs Orange vs Wells 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).
Orange has the most people working from home (13.5%).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Lancaster has the most renters (34.6% rent).
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 | Orange | Wells | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 371Lowest |
957 |
1,148 |
2,230Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Wells and Orange 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% |
15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Guildhall and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Wells 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. |
$71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Wells 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. |
$222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
$1,036±$221 27% below U.S. |
| Orange and Wells 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. |
$3,545 14% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$4,225 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Wells 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% |
7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange and Wells 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 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — |
| High school 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.