Compare towns
Ira vs Lancaster vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
West Haven has the highest household income ($85k).
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 | Ira | Lancaster | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381 |
3,216Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
54±10.5 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±13.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Haven and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ira and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$85,250±$29kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$245,000±$34k 26% below U.S. |
| Ira and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Highest 28% below U.S. |
— |
| Lancaster and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$4,485Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ira and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and West Haven 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | White Mountains Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.