Compare towns
Lancaster vs Lunenburg vs Shelburne
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 youngest population (median age 45.5).
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Lunenburg | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216 |
1,267Lowest |
7,969Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
51.2±4.2Highest 32% above U.S. |
50.9±3.2 31% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Shelburne 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% |
14.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shelburne 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shelburne 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±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$115,963±$16kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
$164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$588,100±$44kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,025±$172 27% below U.S. |
$1,442±$589Highest about the U.S. average |
| Shelburne 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. |
$2,702Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$8,173Highest 162% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±57.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±10.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg and Shelburne 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% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #107 of 120 in NH | — | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.