Compare towns
Troy vs Lancaster vs Orwell
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Lancaster has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k 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 | Lancaster | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,749 |
3,216Highest |
1,294Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
47.5±7Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Orwell and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orwell and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
| Troy and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $233,200±$21k 30% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orwell 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 | Troy School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None 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.