Compare towns
Walpole vs Acworth vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Acworth has the most homeowners (92.5%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (11.5%).
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 | Walpole | Acworth | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690Highest |
851Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.3% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
47.3±14.5Highest 9% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
| Acworth and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
25.9%±16.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Acworth and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
24%±9.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 32.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
25.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
5.1%±4.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Acworth and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
$82,917±$5kHighest 16% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
| Acworth and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH |
$273,000±$34k 32% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Walpole and Acworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150 22% below NH |
$1,352±$291Highest 9% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
| Acworth and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078Highest 9% below NH |
$4,695 30% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
| Walpole and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% NH: 7.2% |
9.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 12 yrs older than NH |
1963 16 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
35 minHighest 30% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lancaster and Walpole 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | — | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | White Mountains 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 |
NH 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.