Compare towns
Lancaster vs Dorchester 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 youngest population (median age 45.5).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($320k median).
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 | Dorchester | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216 |
410Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | -2.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
| Dorchester 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 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Lancaster 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% |
35.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest 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 |
— | $82,617±$16kHighest 17% below NH |
| Walpole and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24k 46% below NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
— | $1,165±$150Highest 22% below NH |
| Walpole and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226 37% below NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$6,078Highest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Walpole and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dorchester 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 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.