Compare towns
Atkinson vs Bellows Falls 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
Atkinson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
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 | Atkinson | Bellows Falls | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Highest |
2,891Lowest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 120 in NH | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane 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.