Compare towns
Alstead vs Westminster vs Windham 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).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Westminster | Windham | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551 |
497Lowest |
594 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 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+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Windham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Windham and Walpole 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. |
— | $1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Westminster 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. |
$4,480Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Windham 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 | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain 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 | 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.