Compare towns
Lancaster vs Northfield vs Lunenburg
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 people working from home (11.5%).
Northfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Northfield | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216 |
4,971Highest |
1,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
42.6±5.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
51.2±4.2Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Lancaster 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% |
20.3%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Northfield 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% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Lunenburg 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% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield 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. |
$92,917±$15kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Northfield 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±$24k 35% below U.S. |
$288,500±$33kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,076±$182Highest 24% below U.S. |
$1,025±$172 27% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Lunenburg 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. |
$5,097Highest 63% above U.S. |
$2,702Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±57.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg 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% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Northfield 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 | #109 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.