Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Swanton 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 renters (49.3% rent).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
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 | Swanton | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,891 |
2,670Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
37.8±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Bellows Falls 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% |
24.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Swanton 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% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest 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+ | 27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2%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% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Walpole 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. |
$66,607±$27k 17% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Swanton 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. |
$229,000±$15k 31% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,238±$103Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| Swanton 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. |
$4,370Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Bellows Falls 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% |
20.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Swanton 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 | — | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school 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.

