Compare towns
Alstead vs Springfield 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
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Walpole has the highest household income ($83k).
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 | Springfield | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
9,084Highest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Alstead 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 20% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.