Compare towns
Lancaster vs Effingham 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
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 | Effingham | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
1,912 |
1,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
51.2±4.2Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Effingham 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% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Effingham 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% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest 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% |
20.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Lunenburg 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. |
$76,607±$14kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Effingham 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. |
$322,700±$30kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,090±$121Highest 23% below U.S. |
$1,025±$172 27% below U.S. |
| Effingham 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. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$2,702Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±57.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg and Lancaster 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% |
9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Effingham 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 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.