Compare towns
Guildhall vs Worcester vs Westminster 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).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Westminster | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 371Lowest |
831 |
497 |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±7.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Lancaster 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $321,200±$62kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$717 40% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Highest 28% below U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
| Worcester 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. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% 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. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | 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 | 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.