Compare towns
Washington vs Lancaster vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Lancaster has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Washington | Lancaster | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Lowest |
3,216 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
42±5Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Washington and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37k 35% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24kHighest 29% below U.S. |
| Williamstown and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Williamstown 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 | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | White Mountains Regional School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.