Compare towns
Lancaster vs Putney vs Windsor
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 homeowners (75.1%).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
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 | Putney | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
2,622 |
2,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.6±12.3 15% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Windsor 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±8.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor and Lancaster 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$51,197±$4kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Putney 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. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$170,300±$22kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Highest 28% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,002±$107 29% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Windsor 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. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±20Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney 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% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school 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.