Compare towns
Walpole vs Dummerston vs Bellows Falls 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 oldest population (median age 46.5).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Dummerston | Bellows Falls | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,690Highest |
2,090Lowest |
2,891 |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Lowest 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% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Dummerston 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. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
| Dummerston 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. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,038±$109 27% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Walpole 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. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,448 43% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Dummerston 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | 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 | 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.