Compare towns

Lancaster vs Guildhall vs Dalton

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 people working from home (11.5%).
Guildhall has the most expensive homes ($321k median).
Dalton has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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.

MeasureLancasterGuildhallDalton
People
Population
3,216Highest
371Lowest
916
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-4.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.5±6.9Highest
17% above U.S.
42.6±7.8Lowest
10% above U.S.
44.5±12.9
14% above U.S.
Lancaster and Dalton 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%
22.6%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±11.3Lowest
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%
26.1%±5.5
U.S.: 17.2%
17.8%±1.3Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
1.1%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dalton and Lancaster 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.
$81,429±$36k
about the U.S. average
Guildhall and Dalton 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.
$321,200±$62kHighest
3% below U.S.
$191,400±$68kLowest
42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,019±$263Highest
28% below U.S.
$850±$717Lowest
40% below U.S.
$900±$825
36% below U.S.
Lancaster and Dalton 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.
$4,625Highest
48% above U.S.
$3,561Lowest
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.1%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
75%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.7%±83.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Guildhall and Dalton 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%
11.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1942Lowest
38 yrs older than U.S.
1958
22 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below U.S.
25 minHighest
5% below U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
Work from home
11.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.9%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Lancaster and Dalton 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.