Compare towns
Marshfield vs Lancaster vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
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 | Marshfield | Lancaster | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 470Lowest |
3,216Highest |
573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±8.8 9% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
42±8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±9.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sheffield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$20kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Marshfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,300±$31k 46% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kHighest 35% below U.S. |
$171,900±$50kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$79Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$967±$79Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Marshfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,269 5% above U.S. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
$2,123Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±62.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.5%±41.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sheffield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marshfield 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 | — | White Mountains Regional School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school 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.