Compare towns

Guildhall vs Reading vs Ripton 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 most kids (22.6% under 18).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
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.

MeasureGuildhallReadingRiptonLancaster
People
Population
371Lowest
699
508
3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±7.8Lowest
10% above U.S.
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
45.5±6.9
17% above U.S.
Reading and Ripton 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%
18.5%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±6.1
U.S.: 22%
Guildhall and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.1%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.4%±5.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton 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%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.1%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$115,000±$46kHighest
42% above U.S.
$85,000±$19k
5% above U.S.
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
$68,911±$23kLowest
15% below U.S.
Guildhall and Ripton 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.
$377,200±$72k
13% above U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$215,700±$24kLowest
35% below U.S.
Ripton and Reading 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.
$1,100±$331Highest
22% below U.S.
—
$1,019±$263
28% below U.S.
Reading 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.
$5,754Highest
84% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$4,226Lowest
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
75%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Guildhall and Reading 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%
8.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958
22 yrs older than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1942Lowest
38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
Work from home
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading and Ripton 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 — Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 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.