Compare towns
Guildhall vs Sheldon vs Sudbury 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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Sudbury has the most expensive homes ($339k 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.
| Measure | Guildhall | Sheldon | Sudbury | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 371Lowest |
2,267 |
679 |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.4±4.9 17% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sudbury 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sudbury 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. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$100,208±$33k 24% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Sudbury 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. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$338,500±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Sudbury and Guildhall 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. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
| Sheldon 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. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,205 35% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Lancaster 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% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
50 minHighest 89% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±9.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sudbury and Sheldon 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.