Compare towns

Lancaster vs Lunenburg vs Stark

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).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.3%).
Stark has the most people working from home (13.9%).

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.

MeasureLancasterLunenburgStark
People
Population
3,216Highest
1,267
419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-14%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.5±6.9Lowest
17% above U.S.
51.2±4.2
32% above U.S.
58.8±3.6Highest
51% above U.S.
Stark and Lunenburg 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%
14.1%±6.9Lowest
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%
24.1%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.2%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Lancaster and Stark 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%
14.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
17.5%
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%
3.6%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Stark 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.
$71,750±$23kHighest
11% below U.S.
Stark 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±$24kHighest
35% below U.S.
$164,000±$11kLowest
51% below U.S.
$197,700±$34k
41% below U.S.
Lancaster and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,019±$263Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,025±$172Highest
27% below U.S.
—
Lunenburg and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,226Highest
35% above U.S.
$2,702
13% below U.S.
$2,636Lowest
15% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.1%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.5%±57.6
U.S.: 51.1%
66.7%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stark 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%
10.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1942Lowest
38 yrs older than U.S.
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
Work from home
11.5%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
4.9%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stark 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 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Stark School District
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.