Compare towns
Lancaster vs Randolph 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).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Randolph | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216 |
2,007Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
50.5±7.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
| Randolph 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% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.9Lowest 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% |
42.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Randolph 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. |
$75,069±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Randolph 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. |
$235,400±$25k 29% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,095±$198 23% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Randolph 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. |
$4,507 45% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±20.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Randolph 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.