Compare towns

Hampton vs Lancaster vs Mendon

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).

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.

MeasureHamptonLancasterMendon
People
Population
16,426Highest
8,606
6,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
43.1±4.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
44.1±4.4
13% above U.S.
Kids under 18
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,233±$9kLowest
18% above U.S.
$134,833±$27kHighest
67% above U.S.
$132,256±$33k
64% above U.S.
Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$550,200±$39k
65% above U.S.
$519,100±$60kLowest
56% above U.S.
$616,000±$37kHighest
85% above U.S.
Mendon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,628±$94Lowest
15% above U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,840±$196
30% above U.S.
Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,813Lowest
118% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$7,213
131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.8%±10.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7
U.S.: 51.1%
78.7%±26Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
Work from home
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lancaster and Hampton 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 #31 of 120 in NH #145 of 282 in MA #210 of 282 in MA
School district Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Nashoba Mendon-Upton
High school in town Winnacunnet High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.1
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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.