Compare towns
Lancaster vs Whitingham 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%).
Whitingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1%).
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 | Whitingham | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216 |
1,368Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Whitingham 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Whitingham 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. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Whitingham 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. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% 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. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham 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% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Whitingham 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.