Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Peru vs Ripton 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).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
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 | Peru | Ripton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,267 |
434Lowest |
508 |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.2Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Lunenburg 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% |
21.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% |
54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Peru and Ripton 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. |
$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
| Peru and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,025±$172 27% below U.S. |
$1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S. |
— | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Peru 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. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±57.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Lunenburg 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% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973 7 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 6% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Peru 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 | 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.