Compare towns

Lancaster vs Wells 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 renters (24.9% rent).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).

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.

MeasureLancasterWellsGuildhall
People
Population
3,216Highest
1,148
371Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.5±6.9
17% above U.S.
50.7±5.2Highest
30% above U.S.
42.6±7.8Lowest
10% above U.S.
Wells and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±6.1
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±4.2Lowest
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%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.5%±2.2Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
29.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.1%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wells 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.
$75,417±$11k
7% below U.S.
$115,000±$46kHighest
42% above U.S.
Guildhall and Wells 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.
$243,000±$42k
27% below U.S.
$321,200±$62kHighest
3% below U.S.
Guildhall and Wells 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.
$1,313±$282Highest
7% below U.S.
$850±$717Lowest
40% below U.S.
Wells 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.
$3,308Lowest
6% above U.S.
$4,625Highest
48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.1%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
62.5%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
75%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Guildhall and Wells 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%
15.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1942Lowest
38 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1958
22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
48 minHighest
80% above U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
11.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.3%±6.2
U.S.: 15.1%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lancaster and Wells 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 Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 —
High school in town None 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.