Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Brighton vs Sheldon 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
Bellows Falls has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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.
| Measure | Bellows Falls | Brighton | Sheldon | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,891 |
1,167Lowest |
2,267 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,600±$35k 41% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109 27% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,448 43% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
22% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Brighton 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 | — | Brighton School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.