Compare towns
Lancaster vs Bradford vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Bradford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
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 | Bradford | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216 |
1,565Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
50.3±5.2Highest 16% above NH |
46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
| Bradford and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Bradford 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 NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 30% below NH |
$108,015±$21kHighest 9% above NH |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
| Bradford 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 46% below NH |
$341,700±$38kHighest 15% below NH |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
| Bradford 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 32% below NH |
$1,507±$206Highest about the NH average |
$1,165±$150 22% below NH |
| Bradford and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,307Highest 5% below NH |
$6,078 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±22.4 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Walpole and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% NH: 72.8% |
85.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1972Highest 7 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bradford 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 | Kearsarge 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 Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.