Compare towns
Lancaster vs Ware vs Guildhall vs Lancaster
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).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Lancaster has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Ware | Guildhall | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,230 |
10,048Highest |
371Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Guildhall 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% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Guildhall 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% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware 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. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Guildhall 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. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$321,200±$62kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$221 27% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Highest 26% below U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
| Ware and Lancaster 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. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,625Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Ware 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% |
11.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Highest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Ware | — | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.