Compare towns
Lancaster vs Exeter vs Guildhall 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).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Guildhall has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Walpole has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
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 | Exeter | Guildhall | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,216 |
16,151Highest |
371Lowest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Guildhall and Walpole 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% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Guildhall 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Walpole 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Guildhall and Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,625 48% above U.S. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 6% 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% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.