Compare towns
Walpole vs Calais 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 the most renters (30.1% rent).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Walpole | Calais | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690Highest |
1,713Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest 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+ | 32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais 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 about the U.S. average |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Calais 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±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Calais and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Calais and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078 95% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.