What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilsum has the most people working from home (11.9%).

Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

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	Gilsum	Walpole
People
Population	716Lowest	3,690Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	-2.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.8±8.1Lowest 3% above NH	46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH
	Walpole and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1%
	Walpole and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	32.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.3Lowest NH: 6%	4%±2.8Highest NH: 6%
	Walpole and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH	$82,617±$16kHighest 17% below NH
	Walpole and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH	$319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH
	Walpole and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH	$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH
	Gilsum and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,579Lowest 16% below NH	$6,078Highest 9% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2%	51.6%±21.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Gilsum and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	11.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 7 yrs older than NH	1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	23 minLowest 13% below NH
Work from home	11.9%±8.7Highest NH: 16.8%	7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Gilsum 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	—	#27 of 120 in NH
School district	Monadnock 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.