Compare towns
Montgomery vs Walpole vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Montgomery | Walpole | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,047Lowest |
3,690Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3 32% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montgomery and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,200±$45kHighest about the U.S. average |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Montgomery and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,326 39% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Montgomery 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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.