Compare towns
Lancaster vs Plainfield vs Ripton 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).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Plainfield | Ripton | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,216 |
1,314 |
508Lowest |
3,811Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Ripton 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% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$81,583±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$254,000±$26k 24% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
— | $1,140±$90 19% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,985Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Plainfield 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% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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 | — | — | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.