Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Reading vs Strafford 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 most affordable homes ($196k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Reading | Strafford | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,891 |
699Lowest |
1,372 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as 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. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Strafford 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Strafford School District | 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.