Compare towns
Fairfield vs Sheldon 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
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Fairfield | Sheldon | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
2,267 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Fairfield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 54% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Fairfield 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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.