What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

Walpole has the most expensive homes ($320k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bath	Walpole
People
Population	1,097Lowest	3,690Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Highest NH: +4.6%	-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.6±8.6Highest 12% above NH	46.5±10.4Lowest 7% above NH
	Bath and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±5.8Lowest NH: 18.2%	22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%
	Walpole and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1%	25.5%±5.4Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Bath and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%	32.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2Lowest NH: 6%	4%±2.8Highest NH: 6%
	Walpole and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,813±$22kLowest 32% below NH	$82,617±$16kHighest 17% below NH
	Walpole and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$234,400±$23kLowest 42% below NH	$319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,438±$309Highest 4% below NH	$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH
	Bath and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,413Lowest 34% below NH	$6,078Highest 9% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Walpole and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	11.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 4% below NH	23 minLowest 13% below NH
Work from home	11.1%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8%	7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bath 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	—	#27 of 120 in NH
School district	Bath 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

NH 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.