Compare towns
Orange vs Lancaster vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Topsham has the most people working from home (14.2%).
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 | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
2,230Highest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
| Orange and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$72,308±$60kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
$200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56kHighest 33% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,036±$221 27% below U.S. |
$908±$398Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Orange and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,225Highest 35% above U.S. |
$4,006 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham and Orange 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| 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.