Compare towns
Dover vs Lancaster vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Walpole has the highest household income ($83k).
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 | Dover | Lancaster | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
3,216 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
| Dover and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest about the U.S. average |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Dover and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 45% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | White Mountains Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| 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.