Compare towns
Lancaster vs Stoneham vs Stow
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 kids (20.9% under 18).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (40.7%).
Stow has the most expensive homes ($326k 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 | Stoneham | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
271Lowest |
535 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
60.6±7.1Highest 56% above U.S. |
57±10.5 47% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.9%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
41%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.9%±17.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoneham and Stow 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% |
37.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.8%±13.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoneham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,911±$23kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$63,750±$27k 21% below U.S. |
$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Stoneham 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. |
$226,200±$32k 32% below U.S. |
$326,400±$42kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,125±$383Highest 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Stoneham 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. |
$1,426Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$3,304 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoneham 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% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.7%±15.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±12 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham and Stow 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.