Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Lancaster vs Orange
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).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Orange has the most people working from home (13.5%).
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 | Lunenburg | Lancaster | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,267 |
2,230Highest |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.2Highest 32% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Orange 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% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lunenburg and Lancaster 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% |
23.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$66,765±$20k 17% below U.S. |
$71,302±$13kHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Orange 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. |
$200,500±$24k 40% below U.S. |
$222,000±$22kHighest 33% below U.S. |
| Orange and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,025±$172Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,036±$221 27% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Orange 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. |
$4,225Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,545 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±57.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange 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 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.