Compare towns
Guildhall vs Townsend 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 homeowners (93.7%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k 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 | Townsend | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 371Lowest |
9,100Highest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Guildhall 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Guildhall and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
35.5%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% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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±$46k 42% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Guildhall 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Townsend 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Townsend 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.