Compare towns
Lancaster vs Sunapee 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).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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.
| Measure | Lancaster | Sunapee | Guildhall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216 |
3,416Highest |
371Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee 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% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee 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. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Guildhall and Sunapee 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. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Sunapee 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. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,625Highest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall 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% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Sunapee 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Sunapee School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.