Compare towns
Lancaster vs Hampstead 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).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Hampstead | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Lowest |
9,102Highest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above 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%±6.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole and Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4Lowest 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% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Hampstead 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 30% below NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
| Hampstead 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 |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,299±$149Highest 13% below NH |
$1,165±$150 22% below NH |
| Hampstead 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,078 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Walpole and Hampstead 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% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Hampstead 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 History | 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.