Compare towns
Lancaster vs Worcester vs Guildhall vs Lunenburg
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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Worcester | Guildhall | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
831 |
371Lowest |
1,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
51.2±4.2Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.6 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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 15% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Worcester 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. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$321,200±$62kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Worcester 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. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,025±$172Highest 27% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Worcester 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. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,625Highest 48% above U.S. |
$2,702Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±57.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Lunenburg 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% 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. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.9%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #107 of 120 in NH | — | — | — |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.