Compare towns
Hampstead vs Lancaster vs Litchfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
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 | Hampstead | Lancaster | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
8,606 |
8,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.1±1.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Litchfield and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$162,036±$11kHighest 101% above U.S. |
| Litchfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$485,000±$18kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$2,138±$406 51% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$7,235Lowest 132% above U.S. |
$8,273 165% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
81.5%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Litchfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Nashoba | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.