Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Jay 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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Jay | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,267 |
471Lowest |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.2 32% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Jay and Lunenburg 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% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest 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% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Lunenburg 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. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Jay 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. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
| Jay and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,025±$172Highest 27% below U.S. |
— | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Lancaster 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. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±57.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Lancaster 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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.