Compare towns
Lancaster vs Sandgate 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 the shortest commute (20 min average).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Pittsfield has the most expensive homes ($295k 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 | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,230 |
435Lowest |
4,105Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.5±5.1 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest 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% |
26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest 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. |
$69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$74,318±$14kHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Pittsfield and Sandgate 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. |
$294,800±$30kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$221Lowest 27% 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 | $4,225 35% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$5,694Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.5%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittsfield 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% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate 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 | — | — | Pittsfield School District |
| High school 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.