Compare towns
Lancaster vs Mapleton vs Unity 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 people working from home (11.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Mapleton | Unity | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,216 |
1,884 |
1,375Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
| Unity 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| Unity and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226 35% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Unity 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Mapleton 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Unity School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.