Compare towns

Lancaster vs Lancaster vs Orange

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
Lancaster has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
Orange has the most people working from home (20.8%).

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.

MeasureLancasterLancasterOrange
People
Population
2,230
3,216Highest
320Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.5%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-8.2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
—
Median age
38.6±8.5Lowest
11% below NH
45.5±6.9Highest
5% above NH
41.3±9.1
5% below NH
Lancaster and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25.1%±8.2Highest
NH: 18.2%
20.9%±6.1
NH: 18.2%
20.6%±5.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Lancaster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±4.7Lowest
NH: 20.1%
28.4%±5.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
20%±5
NH: 20.1%
Lancaster and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
30.1%
NH: 40.6%
37.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±3
NH: 6%
2.9%±2.2Lowest
NH: 6%
4.7%±3.7Highest
NH: 6%
Orange and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,765±$20kLowest
33% below NH
$68,911±$23k
30% below NH
$118,750±$39kHighest
20% above NH
Orange and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$200,500±$24kLowest
50% below NH
$215,700±$24k
46% below NH
$302,600±$35kHighest
25% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,036±$221Highest
31% below NH
$1,019±$263Lowest
32% below NH
—
Lancaster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,225Lowest
37% below NH
$4,226
37% below NH
$5,132Highest
23% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±18.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
36.1%±17
NH: 48.2%
0%±100Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Lancaster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
16.7%
NH: 7.2%
9.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
65.4%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
75.1%
NH: 72.8%
97.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
41 yrs older than NH
1942
37 yrs older than NH
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
26% below NH
23 min
14% below NH
28 minHighest
5% above NH
Work from home
10.6%±6.9Lowest
NH: 16.8%
11.5%±6.3
NH: 16.8%
20.8%±8.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
Orange and Lancaster 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 #107 of 120 in NH —
School district — White Mountains Regional School District —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

NH 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.