Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Mapleton 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).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,267Lowest |
1,884 |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.2Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Lancaster 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Lancaster 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kHighest 35% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mapleton 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. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 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 | $2,702 13% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±57.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Mapleton 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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.