Compare towns
Walpole vs Hooksett vs Lancaster vs Bellows Falls
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Hooksett | Lancaster | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,690 |
15,057Highest |
3,216 |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 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% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Bellows Falls 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 |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078 95% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,448 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Bellows Falls 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 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. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Hooksett 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 | 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.