Compare towns
Orange vs Lancaster vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most people working from home (20.8%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Shelburne has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
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 | Orange | Lancaster | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 320Lowest |
3,216Highest |
530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.2% NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
50.3±11Highest 16% above NH |
| Shelburne and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Shelburne and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±4.5 NH: 6% |
| Orange and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$93,125±$18k 6% below NH |
| Orange and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,600±$35kHighest 25% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$280,200±$45k 30% below NH |
| Orange and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,130±$62Highest 24% below NH |
| Shelburne and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,132Highest 23% below NH |
$4,226 37% below NH |
$3,801Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2% |
10%±70.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Lancaster and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
25 min 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 20.8%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | White Mountains Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.