Compare towns
Dalton vs Walden vs Gilsum
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Gilsum has the most expensive homes ($242k 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 | Dalton | Walden | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 916 |
1,037Highest |
716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±12.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.8±8.1 15% above U.S. |
| Walden and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±11.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walden and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dalton and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,429±$36k about the U.S. average |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$80,417±$7kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Walden and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,400±$68kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$241,500±$32kHighest 27% below U.S. |
| Gilsum and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$825Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,575±$894Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Gilsum and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,561Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
$5,579Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±83.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.5%±55.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilsum and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 5.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Monadnock 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.