Compare towns
Lancaster vs Wells vs Lancaster
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 people working from home (11.5%).
Wells has the most homeowners (93.4%).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
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 | Wells | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
1,148Lowest |
2,230 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Wells 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. |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Wells 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 35% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Wells and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,036±$221 27% 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 | $4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$4,225 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9Lowest 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 | — | #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.