Compare towns
Lancaster vs Walpole vs Guildhall vs Bristol
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).
Walpole has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
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 | Walpole | Guildhall | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,216 |
3,690Highest |
371Lowest |
3,273 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
42.7±5.7 10% 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% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Guildhall 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% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Guildhall 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% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Bristol 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. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$78,438±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Guildhall 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. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$321,200±$62kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$258,300±$63k 22% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Walpole 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. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,310±$97Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Bristol 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. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,625 48% above U.S. |
$4,162Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall 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% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bristol 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | — | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.