Compare towns
Lancaster vs Lyman vs Unity
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 kids (20.9% under 18).
Lyman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Lyman | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
464Lowest |
1,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
60.8±6.5Highest 40% above NH |
58±4.5 34% above NH |
| Lyman and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
38.6%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyman and Unity 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 NH: 40.6% |
27.8% NH: 40.6% |
21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.2 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lancaster and Lyman 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 |
$71,042±$17k 28% below NH |
$87,500±$16kHighest 12% below NH |
| Unity and Lyman 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 |
$311,100±$66kHighest 23% below NH |
$276,100±$29k 31% below NH |
| Lyman and Unity 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 |
$1,147±$81 23% below NH |
$1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
| Unity and Lyman 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 |
$3,981Lowest 40% below NH |
$5,394Highest 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
58.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyman and Unity 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% |
14.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89.3% NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below NH |
24 min 10% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lancaster and Unity 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 | — | Unity School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.