Compare towns
Lancaster vs Mapleton vs Guildhall vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Guildhall has the most expensive homes ($321k median).
Ashland has the most renters (35.9% rent).
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 | Lancaster | Mapleton | Guildhall | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,230Highest |
1,884 |
371Lowest |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8Highest 10% above U.S. |
42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
| Guildhall and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Guildhall and Ashland 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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±$20k 17% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $200,500±$24k 40% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$321,200±$62kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$227,000±$29k 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$221 27% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$850±$717 40% below U.S. |
$1,096±$155Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Ashland and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,225 35% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,625 48% above U.S. |
$4,961Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mapleton 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.