Small-town Lancaster has locally owned shops and outdoor recreation
On the shores of the Connecticut River 55 miles from Conway, Lancaster sits on the Vermont-New Hampshire border. Within the White Mountains, the small town is not a vacation hotspot like its neighbors and is home to full-time residents who appreciate the area’s small-town shops, community and outdoor recreation. “It’s adorable, like a little Mayberry,” says Kim Crane, a Realtor with Don Goudreau eXp Realty in New Hampshire, Concord. Cran has been working in the industry for 5 years. “It has got cute little cafes and shops. Everybody is friendly, it’s small and quaint.” Lancaster’s urban heart is surrounded by farmland and rolling green hills. The area is over 2 hours from Burlington, Vermont, and Portland, Maine.
Year-round outdoor recreation
Along Main Street is Centennial Park, a manicured lawn and local gathering place for events like the Lancaster Farmers’ Market and summer concerts in the gazebo. The Colonel Town Recreation has an outdoor community pool open during the summer. Surrounding the pool area are baseball and softball fields, hardtop tennis and basketball courts, and several play structures.
The Israel River runs through the town, and many residents use it as a site for tubing in the summer. Boating and fishing are also common pastimes on the Israel and Connecticut Rivers. Further outside of town, Mount Cabot has numerous trails for hiking in the summer and cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter.
Traditional home styles in urban and rural areas
Homes in Lancaster’s downtown area sit along gridded streets, while those outside the more urban area are near winding roadways on large lots. Many houses in the downtown area have public water and sewer access; those in the more rural parts of town have private wells and septic systems. Most residences are single-family, but townhouses, condos and apartments are available. “In Downtown, there are some beautiful new apartments that were put into an old building,” says Crane. “There is some construction, some people are building houses, but it’s not as excessive as in some areas. Although there has been an increase in building since COVID.”
Minimal Traditional, cottage and National are common housing styles. Single-family homes range from $170,000 to $470,000. Townhouses have a median sale price of $429,900. “We are starting to see second homes here, but it’s mostly full-time residents,” says Crane.
Main Street has locally owned restaurants
The Granite Grind is along Main Street and also serves homemade pastries. “The Granite Grind has breakfast and lunch and a very friendly atmosphere,” says Crane. “Some people go in there to play checkers and have a coffee.” Another locally owned eatery is the Polish Princess Bakery, which sells breads, pastries and lunch items. A popular eatery is The Yellow Deli, an international chain serving sandwiches and salads. The Copper Pig Brewery offers rotating beers on tap and bar food. For groceries, there’s a Shaw’s near a Family Dollar.
Lancaster fair and farmers market
The Lancaster Fair takes place during Labor Day week at the Lancaster Fairgrounds. It features classic carnival entertainment, including vendors, rides and livestock competitions. The Lancaster Farmers’ Market is open from May through October on Main Street in Centennial Park, where vendors sell artisanal goods and fresh produce.
White Mountain Regional schools receive Cs
The area is served by the White Mountain Regional School District, which receives a C from Niche. Children may attend Lancaster Elementary, which receives a C-minus for kindergarten through eighth grade. White Mountain Regional High receives a C. The high school offers career and preparatory courses in subjects such as agriculture, technology and criminal justice.
Commuters use U.S. Route 3
Due to a lack of public transportation in the area, Lancaster is entirely car dependent. U.S. Route 3 leads to Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa, 6 miles away. Whitefield, 8 miles away, and Conway, 55 miles away, are along the same route. “We do have commuters, people work at the schools, they work in the logging industry and then we have Mountain View Grand, which employs many people,” says Crane. Weeks Medical Center is in Lancaster, and the nearest Airport is Burlington International Airport, which is over two hours away. Most houses of worship are along U.S. Route 3, including St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Christ United Methodist Church and All Saints Catholic Church.
Flooding and mud season in Lancaster
Homes near the Connecticut River may flood during inclement weather, though this is uncommon. The Israel River is known to flood in the winter due to ice jams. It does not flood as often because of an ice control structure built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1980s, but flooding around the river may still occur. Mid-March through May is mud season in New Hampshire. During this time, the ground thaws, introducing excess water into the soil, causing unpaved paths to become muddy.
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Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
