Compare towns
Sandgate vs Mapleton vs Lancaster vs Wheelock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Sandgate | Mapleton | Lancaster | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,884 |
3,216Highest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
51±5.6 31% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31k 42% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kHighest 35% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Highest 28% below U.S. |
— |
| Lancaster and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778 11% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
$2,937 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Wheelock 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | White Mountains Regional School District | — |
| High school 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.