Compare towns
Lancaster vs Orange vs Winchester
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 most expensive homes ($246k median).
Winchester has the most homeowners (72.7%).
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.
| Measure | Lancaster | Orange | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,230Lowest |
7,573Highest |
4,212 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
42.6±4.5Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Winchester 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.7Lowest 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% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Winchester 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. |
$67,723±$11kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Winchester 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±$18kHighest 26% below U.S. |
$242,900±$20k 27% below U.S. |
| Orange and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$221 27% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,209±$143Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Winchester 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. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,314Highest 70% 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% |
45%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchester 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% |
14.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Orange 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 | #120 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Winchester 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.