Compare towns
Lancaster vs Orange vs Troy
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
Troy has the highest household income ($89k).
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 | Orange | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,230 |
7,573Highest |
2,005Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.2Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.2±5 3% above U.S. |
| Orange and Troy 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%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Troy 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. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$88,871±$14kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Troy 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 40% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$266,600±$39kHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Troy and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$221Highest 27% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,024±$331 28% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Troy 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. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,229Highest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.1%±27.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Troy 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Troy 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.