Compare towns
Lancaster vs Brighton 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
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 | Brighton | Guildhall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
1,167 |
371Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Brighton 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% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest 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% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Brighton 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% |
25.9%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% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton 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±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above 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 | $215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$321,200±$62kHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Highest 28% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$850±$717 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. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,625Highest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brighton 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 | — | — |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Brighton 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.