Compare towns
Lancaster vs Sutton vs Guildhall vs Jefferson
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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
Guildhall has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Jefferson has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Sutton | Guildhall | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
2,239 |
371Lowest |
1,013 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton 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±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$115,000±$46k 42% above U.S. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
$296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$867±$156 39% below U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$4,625 48% above U.S. |
$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Sutton 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.