Compare towns
Lancaster vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Reading | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,230 |
699Lowest |
4,105Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.5±5.1 7% above U.S. |
| Reading and Pittsfield 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pittsfield 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. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$74,318±$14k 8% below U.S. |
| Reading 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. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$294,800±$30k 11% below U.S. |
| Reading and Pittsfield 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. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,239±$182Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Pittsfield and Reading 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$5,694 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.5%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittsfield and Reading 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% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Pittsfield High School |
| 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.