Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Dorset 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
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Lancaster has the most renters (24.9% rent).
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 | Lunenburg | Dorset | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,267Lowest |
2,092 |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.2Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,025±$172 27% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,702Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±57.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | White Mountains Regional School District |
| 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 |
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.