Compare towns
Guildhall vs Ripton vs Dorset 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 youngest population (median age 42.6).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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.
| Measure | Guildhall | Ripton | Dorset | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 371Lowest |
508 |
2,092 |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±7.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Dorset 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest 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% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%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% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% 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. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
— | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
| Dorset 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. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Dorset 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% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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.