Compare towns
Lancaster vs Townsend 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).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
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 | Townsend | Guildhall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216 |
9,100Highest |
371Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Guildhall and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Guildhall 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% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$115,000±$46k 42% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,625 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.