Compare towns
Lancaster vs Mapleton vs Pittston
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Pittston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
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 | Mapleton | Pittston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
1,884Lowest |
3,093 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.4±5.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Pittston 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% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pittston and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$86,614±$18k 7% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Pittston 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$238,700±$66kHighest 28% below U.S. |
| Pittston and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,080±$593Highest 24% below U.S. |
| Pittston 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$1,909 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±34.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittston and Lancaster 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Mapleton 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 | — | #123 of 133 in ME |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| 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.