Compare towns

Lancaster vs Marshfield vs Guildhall

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).
Marshfield has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Guildhall has the most expensive homes ($321k 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.

MeasureLancasterMarshfieldGuildhall
People
Population
3,216Highest
470
371Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
45.5±6.9Highest
17% above U.S.
42.4±8.8Lowest
9% above U.S.
42.6±7.8
10% above U.S.
Lancaster and Guildhall 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%
19.4%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Guildhall 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%
10.2%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±5.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Lancaster and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.1%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Marshfield 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±$23kLowest
15% below U.S.
$84,375±$20k
5% above U.S.
$115,000±$46kHighest
42% above U.S.
Guildhall and Marshfield 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.
$178,300±$31kLowest
46% below U.S.
$321,200±$62kHighest
3% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,019±$263
28% below U.S.
$1,125±$79Highest
20% below U.S.
$850±$717Lowest
40% below U.S.
Marshfield 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.
$3,269Lowest
5% above U.S.
$4,625Highest
48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.1%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±62.4
U.S.: 51.1%
75%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Guildhall and Marshfield 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%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1942
38 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1958Highest
22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
11.5%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
17.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Marshfield 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 — —
High school 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.