Compare towns
Lancaster vs Warner vs Northumberland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Warner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Northumberland has the most affordable homes ($120k 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 | Warner | Northumberland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
2,959 |
1,815Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-7.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
43.7±4Lowest about the NH average |
45.7±6.2Highest 6% above NH |
| Northumberland and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
16.6%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.1% NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
17.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Warner 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 30% below NH |
$94,022±$18kHighest 5% below NH |
$40,268±$7kLowest 59% below NH |
| Warner and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24k 46% below NH |
$353,100±$22kHighest 12% below NH |
$120,100±$15kLowest 70% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263 32% below NH |
$1,219±$123Highest 18% below NH |
$1,018±$96Lowest 32% below NH |
| Warner and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226 37% below NH |
$7,650Highest 15% above NH |
$2,794Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.7%±21.3 NH: 48.2% |
74.7%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Northumberland and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
23.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% NH: 72.8% |
74.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1960 19 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
18 minLowest 33% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.6%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.3%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Warner and Lancaster 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 | Northumberland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Groveton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.