Compare towns
Athens vs Walpole vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Athens | Walpole | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
3,690Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athens and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 74% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$5,364Lowest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Athens 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.