Compare towns
Lancaster vs Westminster vs Middlesex
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).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Westminster | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
2,999 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Westminster 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% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Westminster 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% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Westminster 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. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster 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% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.