Compare towns
Walpole vs Hooksett 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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,690 |
15,057Highest |
3,216 |
2,999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Walpole 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 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%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Westminster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest 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% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Westminster 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±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078 95% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% 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% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Westminster 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #27 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Hooksett School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.