Compare towns
Lancaster vs Lincoln vs Troy
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 most affordable homes ($216k median).
Lincoln has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
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 | Lincoln | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
1,461Lowest |
2,005 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
46.8±10.1Highest 8% above NH |
40.2±5Lowest 7% below NH |
| Lincoln 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% |
19.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.2%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Troy 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% |
28.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Lincoln 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% |
38.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.1%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Troy 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 30% below NH |
$70,625±$54k 29% below NH |
$88,871±$14kHighest 10% below NH |
| Troy and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$342,000±$38kHighest 15% below NH |
$266,600±$39k 34% below NH |
| Lincoln and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,143±$498Highest 23% below NH |
$1,024±$331 31% below NH |
| Lincoln and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226 37% below NH |
$2,984Lowest 55% below NH |
$5,229Highest 22% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.7%±26Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.1%±27.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Lincoln and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% NH: 72.8% |
72%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±8.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lincoln 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 | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lin-Wood Public School (High) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.