Compare towns
Lancaster vs Whiting 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 most affordable homes ($201k median).
Whiting has the highest household income ($91k).
Ashland has the oldest population (median age 42.3).
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 | Whiting | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,230Highest |
532Lowest |
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 |
39.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
42.3±11.2Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Whiting 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% |
23.5%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashland 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting 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 17% below U.S. |
$91,250±$38kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Whiting 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. |
$280,400±$36kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$227,000±$29k 32% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Ashland 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. |
$1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,096±$155 22% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Ashland 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. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
$4,961Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting and Lancaster 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% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Whiting 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 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | 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 |
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.