Compare towns
Lancaster vs Durham 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).
Durham has the most people working from home (19.4%).
Guildhall has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Guildhall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216 |
15,080Highest |
371Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Guildhall 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Guildhall 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$115,000±$46k 42% above U.S. |
| Durham and Guildhall 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. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,625 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Durham 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% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.