Compare towns
Lancaster vs Windsor 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
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 | Windsor | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,230 |
3,554Highest |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.8±6.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
| Windsor 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% |
19.5%±5.2Lowest 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor 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% |
39.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest 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±$20kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$54,607±$9k 32% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Ashland 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. |
$207,500±$31k 38% below U.S. |
$227,000±$29kHighest 32% below U.S. |
| Ashland and Windsor 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. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 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 | $4,225Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,209Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,961 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest 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% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Windsor 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.