Compare towns
Alstead vs White River Junction 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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | White River Junction | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
3,364 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below 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% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest 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% |
38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±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. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and White River Junction 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. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Walpole and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction 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 | — | — | #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 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.