Compare towns
Troy vs Stow vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Troy has the highest household income ($89k).
Stow has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Troy | Stow | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,005 |
535Lowest |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| Stow and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Troy and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Troy and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,871±$14kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Troy and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,600±$39k 20% below U.S. |
$326,400±$42kHighest about the U.S. average |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Stow and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,024±$331Highest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Troy and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,229Highest 68% above U.S. |
$3,304Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.1%±27.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Troy and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±12Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow 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 | Monadnock Regional School District | — | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.