Compare towns
Walpole vs Keene vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($320k median).
Keene has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
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 | Keene | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690 |
22,939Highest |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
| 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%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,617±$16kHighest 17% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
| Walpole and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150 22% below NH |
$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
| Keene and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078 9% below NH |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Walpole and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 12 yrs older than NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Keene School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.