Compare towns
Lancaster vs Orange vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
Orange has the most people working from home (20.8%).
Lancaster has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
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 | Orange | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
320Lowest |
2,230 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +12.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
41.3±9.1 5% below NH |
38.6±8.5Lowest 11% below NH |
| Lancaster and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25.1%±8.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster 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 NH: 20.1% |
20%±5 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±3 NH: 6% |
| Orange 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 30% below NH |
$118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
$66,765±$20kLowest 33% below NH |
| Orange 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 46% below NH |
$302,600±$35kHighest 25% below NH |
$200,500±$24kLowest 50% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
— | $1,036±$221Highest 31% below NH |
| Lancaster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226 37% below NH |
$5,132Highest 23% below NH |
$4,225Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±18.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lancaster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7% NH: 7.2% |
9.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
19.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
65.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942 37 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below NH |
28 minHighest 5% above NH |
20 minLowest 26% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.6%±6.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Orange 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.