Compare towns
Lancaster vs Peru 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 the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Peru | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,230Highest |
434Lowest |
2,005 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.3±8.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.2±5 3% above U.S. |
| Peru 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Troy 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% |
21.4%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peru 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest 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±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$88,871±$14k 10% above U.S. |
| Peru and Troy 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. |
$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$266,600±$39k 20% below U.S. |
| Peru and Troy 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. |
$1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,024±$331Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Peru and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,225Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$5,229Highest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Peru 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 | — | — | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.