Compare towns
Lancaster vs Topsham vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering LancasterGuildhall, VT
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Topsham has the most people working from home (14.2%).
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 | Topsham | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,230 |
999Lowest |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.1±5.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| Topsham 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% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Lancaster 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% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Topsham 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% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster 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. |
$72,308±$60kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Topsham 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 40% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56kHighest 33% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$221Highest 27% below U.S. |
$908±$398Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$4,006Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Waits River Union High District #36 | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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.