Compare towns
Lancaster vs Mapleton vs Unity vs Northumberland
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 renters (24.9% rent).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Unity has the most expensive homes ($276k median).
Northumberland has the most affordable homes ($120k median).
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 | Unity | Northumberland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
1,884 |
1,375Lowest |
1,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
45.7±6.2 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.5 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%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$40,268±$7kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Unity 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±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$120,100±$15kLowest 64% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,018±$96 28% below U.S. |
| Unity and Lancaster 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$2,794 10% 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% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.7%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northumberland and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Northumberland 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Unity School District | Northumberland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Groveton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.