Compare towns

Westminster vs Lancaster vs Walpole

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Walpole has the most renters (30.1% rent).

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.

MeasureWestminsterLancasterWalpole
People
Population
497Lowest
3,216
3,690Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.3±11.5Lowest
11% above U.S.
45.5±6.9
17% above U.S.
46.5±10.4Highest
20% 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
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±11.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±5.4
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+
45.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Walpole and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,000±$22k
about the U.S. average
$68,911±$23kLowest
15% below U.S.
$82,617±$16kHighest
about the U.S. average
Walpole and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$313,600±$39k
6% below U.S.
$215,700±$24kLowest
35% below U.S.
$319,800±$48kHighest
4% below U.S.
Walpole and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$749±$315Lowest
47% below U.S.
$1,019±$263
28% below U.S.
$1,165±$150Highest
18% below U.S.
Walpole and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,480
44% above U.S.
$4,226Lowest
35% above U.S.
$6,078Highest
95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Walpole and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1942
38 yrs older than U.S.
1967Highest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
13% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
Work from home
23.1%±15.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster 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 #53 of 70 in VT #107 of 120 in NH #27 of 120 in NH
School district — White Mountains Regional School District Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.