Compare towns
Alstead vs Bristol vs Rumney vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Rumney has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Alstead | Bristol | Rumney | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551 |
3,273 |
1,458Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.2% NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
44.5±2.3 about the NH average |
46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
| Alstead and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.1%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Alstead and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
41.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Rumney and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$79,444±$21k 20% below NH |
$82,617±$16kHighest 17% below NH |
| Walpole and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$309,800±$37k 23% below NH |
$319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH |
| Walpole and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
$1,064±$100Lowest 29% below NH |
$1,165±$150 22% below NH |
| Bristol and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$4,716 29% below NH |
$6,078Highest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.1%±21.3 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
10.4% NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±7Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rumney and Alstead 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 | — | #79 of 120 in NH | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Newfound Area School District | Rumney School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.