What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlestown has the most affordable homes ($228k median).

Walpole has the highest household income ($83k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Charlestown	Walpole
People
Population	4,889Highest	3,690Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	-2.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.6±8.5Lowest 4% below NH	46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH
	Walpole and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2%	22.2%±5.2Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Charlestown and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.4%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1%
	Walpole and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	32.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 6%	4%±2.8Highest NH: 6%
	Walpole and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,338±$23kLowest 52% below NH	$82,617±$16kHighest 17% below NH
	Walpole and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$228,000±$62kLowest 43% below NH	$319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH
	Walpole and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,099±$85Lowest 26% below NH	$1,165±$150Highest 22% below NH
	Walpole and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,143Lowest 23% below NH	$6,078Highest 9% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2%	51.6%±21.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Charlestown and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.8%Highest NH: 7.2%	11.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below NH	23 minLowest 13% below NH
Work from home	7.6%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%	7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Charlestown 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	#113 of 120 in NH	#27 of 120 in NH
School district	Fall Mountain Regional School District	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.