Compare towns

Lancaster vs Shelburne vs Guildhall

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).
Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).
Guildhall has the most homeowners (93.7%).

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.

MeasureLancasterShelburneGuildhall
People
Population
3,216
7,969Highest
371Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.5±6.9
17% above U.S.
50.9±3.2Highest
31% above U.S.
42.6±7.8Lowest
10% above U.S.
Shelburne 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%
20.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Guildhall 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%
29.2%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Shelburne 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%
70.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.1%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Shelburne 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±$23kLowest
15% below U.S.
$115,963±$16kHighest
44% above U.S.
$115,000±$46k
42% above U.S.
Shelburne and Guildhall 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.
$588,100±$44kHighest
77% above U.S.
$321,200±$62k
3% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,019±$263
28% below U.S.
$1,442±$589Highest
about the U.S. average
$850±$717Lowest
40% below U.S.
Shelburne 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.
$8,173Highest
162% above U.S.
$4,625
48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.1%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±10.6
U.S.: 51.1%
75%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Guildhall and Shelburne 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%
8.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1942Lowest
38 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1958
22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
25 minHighest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
11.5%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
31.4%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #107 of 120 in NH #8 of 70 in VT —
School district White Mountains Regional School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 —
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.