Compare towns
Lancaster vs Ogunquit vs Lunenburg vs Canaan
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 kids (20.9% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Canaan has the youngest population (median age 44.4).
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 | Ogunquit | Lunenburg | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,216 |
1,379 |
1,267Lowest |
3,811Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
51.2±4.2 32% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Canaan 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$81,583±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Ogunquit and Canaan 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$254,000±$26k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,025±$172 27% below U.S. |
$1,140±$90Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Canaan 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$2,702Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$5,985Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±57.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Lunenburg 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #107 of 120 in NH | — | — | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.