Compare towns
Lancaster vs Canaan vs Lunenburg
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 kids (20.9% under 18).
Canaan has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Canaan | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216 |
3,811Highest |
1,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.2±4.2Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Canaan 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% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan 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. |
$81,583±$6kHighest about the U.S. average |
$53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Canaan 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. |
$254,000±$26kHighest 24% below U.S. |
$164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Canaan and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,140±$90Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,025±$172 27% below U.S. |
| Canaan and Lunenburg 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. |
$5,985Highest 92% above U.S. |
$2,702Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±57.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Lunenburg 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% |
13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canaan 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.