Compare towns
Walpole vs Epping vs Lancaster vs Westminster
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).
Epping has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Epping | Lancaster | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,690 |
7,430Highest |
3,216 |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 11% 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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 |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Epping 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. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Walpole 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Westminster 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Epping School District | White Mountains Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.