Compare towns
Lancaster vs Durham 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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Lowest |
15,080Highest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
| Walpole and Lancaster 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,165±$150 22% below NH |
| Durham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,078 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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 NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 minHighest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.