Compare towns
Sutton vs Lancaster vs Waterville vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most people working from home (11.6%).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Whitingham has the most expensive homes ($262k 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 | Sutton | Lancaster | Waterville | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
2,230Highest |
680Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 20% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41k 31% below U.S. |
$200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30kHighest 21% below U.S. |
| Whitingham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,036±$221 27% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 27% above U.S. |
$4,225 35% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
38 min 42% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.