Compare towns
Lancaster vs Acton vs Guildhall
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 ($216k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
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 | Acton | Guildhall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
2,721 |
371Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Acton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Guildhall and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Guildhall and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
| Acton and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Highest 28% below U.S. |
— | $850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226 35% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,625Highest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Acton Public Schools | — |
| 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.