Compare towns
Lancaster vs Ripton vs Middlesex
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 affordable homes ($216k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Ripton | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
508Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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. |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Lancaster 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. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Ripton 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None 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.