Compare towns
Dover vs Middlesex vs Newfane 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
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Newfane has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Walpole has the most renters (30.1% rent).
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 | Dover | Middlesex | Newfane | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,943 |
1,456Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21k 17% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfane and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Middlesex 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.