Compare towns
Lancaster vs Dorchester 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 renters (24.9% rent).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Guildhall has the most expensive homes ($321k 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 | Dorchester | Guildhall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
410 |
371Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Dorchester 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% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest 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%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Guildhall 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. |
— | $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. |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$321,200±$62kHighest 3% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$4,625Highest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Lancaster 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% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 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 52% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorchester 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.