Compare towns
Walpole vs Plainfield 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 renters (30.1% rent).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Plainfield | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% 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%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield 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 17% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150 22% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078 9% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
| Walpole and Lancaster 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 12 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Plainfield 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 |
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.