Compare towns
Walpole vs Brighton vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Lancaster has the most homeowners (75.1%).
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 | Brighton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690Highest |
1,167Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% 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 | 22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 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+ | 25.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Brighton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton 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±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% 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 | $6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brighton 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | — | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Brighton 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 |
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.