Compare towns
Lancaster vs Orange 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Orange has the most homeowners (87.8%).
Ashland has the most expensive homes ($227k median).
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 | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,230Highest |
957Lowest |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
| Orange 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% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Ashland 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% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashland 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% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Ashland 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. |
$71,302±$13kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| 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 40% below U.S. |
$222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
$227,000±$29kHighest 32% below U.S. |
| Ashland and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$221Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,096±$155 22% below U.S. |
| Orange and Ashland 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. |
$3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,961Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Ashland 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% |
7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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 |
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