Compare towns
Lancaster vs Proctor vs Northumberland
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 renters (24.9% rent).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Northumberland has the most affordable homes ($120k 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 | Proctor | Northumberland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
1,794Lowest |
1,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.7±6.2Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Northumberland and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Northumberland 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% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Proctor 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. |
$74,167±$12kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$40,268±$7kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Proctor 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±$24kHighest 35% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17k 37% below U.S. |
$120,100±$15kLowest 64% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202Highest 27% below U.S. |
$1,018±$96Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Proctor and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$2,794Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.7%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 16.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Highest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Northumberland 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northumberland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Groveton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Highest |
8.6Lowest |
| 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.