Compare towns
Lancaster vs Rumney vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Rumney has the most expensive homes ($310k median).
Ashland has the most renters (35.9% rent).
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 | Rumney | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,230Highest |
1,458Lowest |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.2% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.6±8.5Lowest 11% below NH |
44.5±2.3Highest about the NH average |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
| Rumney 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.1%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Rumney 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 NH: 40.6% |
41.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Rumney 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±$20k 33% below NH |
$79,444±$21kHighest 20% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Rumney 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 50% below NH |
$309,800±$37kHighest 23% below NH |
$227,000±$29k 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$221Lowest 31% below NH |
$1,064±$100 29% below NH |
$1,096±$155Highest 26% below NH |
| Ashland and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,225Lowest 37% below NH |
$4,716 29% below NH |
$4,961Highest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±18.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.1%±21.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Rumney and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% NH: 72.8% |
77.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rumney 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 | — | Rumney School District | 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 |
NH 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.