Compare towns
Guildhall vs Webster vs Whitman 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%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($201k 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 | Webster | Whitman | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 371Lowest |
17,748Highest |
15,295 |
2,230 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±7.8Highest 10% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Guildhall and Whitman 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% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5 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% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Guildhall and Webster 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% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Whitman 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. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$108,933±$14k 35% above U.S. |
$66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Whitman 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. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,036±$221 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,625 48% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
$4,225 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Whitman 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% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Whitman and Lancaster 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Webster | Whitman-Hanson | — |
| High school in town | — | Bartlett High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.