Compare towns
Lancaster vs Durham 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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
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 | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216 |
15,080Highest |
1,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Lunenburg 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% |
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% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.6%Lowest 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% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,025±$172 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226 35% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,702Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±57.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.9%±2.9Lowest 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| 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.