Compare towns
Barnstead 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
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Walpole has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
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 | Barnstead | Bellows Falls | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
2,891Lowest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Lowest 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+ | 20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnstead and Walpole 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead 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.