Compare towns
Lancaster vs Andover 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
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Walpole has the most renters (30.1% rent).
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 | Lancaster | Andover | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216 |
616Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
| Andover and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest 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+ | 28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest 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 | $68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Andover and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Andover and Walpole 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. |
$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| Andover and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover 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 | White Mountains Regional School District | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school 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.