Compare towns
Westfield vs Lancaster vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westfield has the most expensive homes ($301k median).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
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 | Westfield | Lancaster | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 536Lowest |
3,216Highest |
1,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±19.9 13% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.1%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±11.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,500±$30kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Westfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,400±$47kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
$183,400±$33kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$187Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Highest 28% below U.S. |
$945±$46 33% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,388Highest 41% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$2,810Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
55 minHighest 109% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westfield 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 | — | White Mountains Regional School District | Lowell 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.