Compare towns
Walpole vs Townsend 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 renters (30.1% rent).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Townsend | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690 |
9,100Highest |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% 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%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest 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% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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 about the U.S. average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Walpole 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. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | North Middlesex | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.