Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs White River Junction vs Wilder 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).
White River Junction has the most people working from home (15.7%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | White River Junction | Wilder | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,891Lowest |
3,364 |
3,087 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest 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+ | 23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Wilder 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. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and White River Junction 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. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Walpole and White River Junction 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. |
$1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Walpole 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. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction and Wilder 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 | 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.