Compare towns

Halifax vs Lancaster vs Whitingham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Whitingham has the highest household income ($71k).

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.

MeasureHalifaxLancasterWhitingham
People
Population
847Lowest
3,216Highest
1,368
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.6±13.1Lowest
4% above U.S.
45.5±6.9
17% above U.S.
46.4±7.1Highest
19% above U.S.
Whitingham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25.4%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±6.1
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Halifax and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.4%±5.8
U.S.: 17.2%
31.1%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Whitingham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Lancaster and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$63,889±$7kLowest
21% below U.S.
$68,911±$23k
15% below U.S.
$70,625±$11kHighest
13% below U.S.
Whitingham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$267,500±$21kHighest
20% below U.S.
$215,700±$24kLowest
35% below U.S.
$262,300±$30k
21% below U.S.
Halifax and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$875±$154
38% below U.S.
$1,019±$263Highest
28% below U.S.
$673±$150Lowest
52% below U.S.
Lancaster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,991
60% above U.S.
$4,226Lowest
35% above U.S.
$5,055Highest
62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±73.8
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
62.7%±47.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Whitingham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1942Lowest
38 yrs older than U.S.
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
23% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
38 minHighest
44% above U.S.
Work from home
29.9%±11.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
9.7%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #107 of 120 in NH —
School district Halifax School District White Mountains Regional School District Twin Valley Unified School District #75
High school in town None in town None in town Twin Valley Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
7.8
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.