Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Strafford | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,267Lowest |
1,372 |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.2 32% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,025±$172 27% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±57.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | Strafford 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.