Compare towns
Lancaster vs Norwich 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).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Norwich | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Lowest |
3,640 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich 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% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich 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. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 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 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Norwich 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 Our Story | 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.