Compare towns

Windham vs Ripton vs Lancaster vs Worcester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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.

MeasureWindhamRiptonLancasterWorcester
People
Population
594
508Lowest
3,216Highest
831
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
45.5±6.9
17% above U.S.
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
Ripton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Lancaster and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.4%±5.8
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
30.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$68,911±$23kLowest
15% below U.S.
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$215,700±$24kLowest
35% below U.S.
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly — —
$1,019±$263Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,023±$136Highest
28% below U.S.
Worcester and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$4,226Lowest
35% above U.S.
$4,421
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1942Lowest
38 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 min
9% below U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Windham 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 — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 White Mountains Regional School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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 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.