Compare towns
Benson vs Walpole vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($320k median).
West Haven has the most homeowners (90.3%).
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 | Benson | Walpole | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
3,690Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S. |
54±10.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±13.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$85,250±$29kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$245,000±$34k 26% below U.S. |
| Walpole and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
— |
| Walpole and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,485 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and West Haven 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.