Compare towns
Lancaster vs Worcester vs Troy
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%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Troy has the highest household income ($89k).
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 | Worcester | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,230Highest |
831Lowest |
2,005 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
40.2±5 3% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Troy 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Worcester 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Troy 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. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$88,871±$14kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Troy and Worcester 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. |
$271,100±$27kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$266,600±$39k 20% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Troy 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. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,024±$331 28% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Troy 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. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$5,229Highest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.1%±27.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Troy 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #107 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Monadnock 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.