Compare towns

Lancaster vs Ripton vs Belvidere

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).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Belvidere has the youngest population (median age 40.7).

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.

MeasureLancasterRiptonBelvidere
People
Population
3,216Highest
508
422Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.5±6.9
17% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
40.7±6.5Lowest
5% above U.S.
Ripton 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%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Belvidere 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%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
8.8%±4Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,911±$23kLowest
15% below U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$81,563±$18k
about the U.S. average
Ripton and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$215,700±$24kLowest
35% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$239,200±$51k
28% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,019±$263Lowest
28% below U.S.
—
$1,542±$1kHighest
9% above U.S.
Belvidere and Lancaster 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.
$4,915Highest
58% above U.S.
$3,908Lowest
25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.1%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
66.7%±53.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Belvidere and Ripton 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%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1942Lowest
38 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
38 minHighest
42% above U.S.
Work from home
11.5%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±7.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton 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 — —
School district White Mountains Regional School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
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.