Compare towns
Lancaster vs Putney vs Pittsfield
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%).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Pittsfield has the oldest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Putney | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,230Lowest |
2,622 |
4,105Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±8.5 about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.5±5.1Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Pittsfield and Lancaster 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Pittsfield 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% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$74,318±$14k 8% below U.S. |
| Putney and Pittsfield 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. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$294,800±$30k 11% below U.S. |
| Putney and Pittsfield 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. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,239±$182Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Pittsfield 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. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,694Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.5%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittsfield and Putney 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% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Pittsfield 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Pittsfield High School |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.