Compare towns

Lancaster vs Richmond 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).
Richmond has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
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.

MeasureLancasterRichmondWalpole
People
Population
3,216Lowest
4,159Highest
3,690
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.5±6.9
17% above U.S.
43.7±5.6Lowest
12% 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%
21.5%±5
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Walpole and Richmond 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%
19.5%±6.3Lowest
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%
59.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Walpole and Lancaster 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.
$108,235±$24kHighest
34% above U.S.
$82,617±$16k
about the U.S. average
Richmond 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
35% below U.S.
$432,200±$39kHighest
30% above U.S.
$319,800±$48k
4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,019±$263Lowest
28% below U.S.
—
$1,165±$150Highest
18% below U.S.
Walpole and Lancaster 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.
$6,868Highest
120% above U.S.
$6,078
95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.1%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
28.5%±15.8Lowest
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%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1942Lowest
38 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
25 minHighest
6% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
Work from home
11.5%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
22.5%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Richmond 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 #5 of 70 in VT #27 of 120 in NH
School district White Mountains Regional School District Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 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.