Compare towns
Walpole vs Northfield vs Westminster 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 most expensive homes ($320k median).
Northfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Northfield | Westminster | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,690 |
4,971Highest |
2,999Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
42.6±5.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% 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% |
20.3%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 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% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest 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% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield 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 |
$92,917±$15kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Northfield 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±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$288,500±$33k 13% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,076±$182 24% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Northfield 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. |
$5,097 63% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 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% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #27 of 120 in NH | #109 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
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| 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.