Compare towns
Lancaster vs Durham vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
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 | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216 |
15,080Highest |
2,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.6±8.5 11% below NH |
| Lancaster 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 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25.1%±8.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster 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 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster 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% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$66,765±$20kLowest 33% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24k 46% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$200,500±$24kLowest 50% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,036±$221 31% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226 37% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,225Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±18.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
19.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
65.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942 37 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 26% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.6%±6.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #107 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet |
NH 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.