Compare towns
Lancaster vs Sandgate 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 the shortest commute (20 min average).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
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 | Sandgate | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,230Highest |
435Lowest |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
| Sandgate 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% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest 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%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate and Ashland 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% |
37.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest 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. |
$69,167±$19kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Sandgate 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±$24k 40% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$227,000±$29kHighest 32% below U.S. |
| Ashland and Lancaster 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. |
— | $1,096±$155Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Ashland and Lancaster 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. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$4,961Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate 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 | — | — | Ashland 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.