What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Gloucester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

Walpole has the oldest population (median age 46.5).

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	New Gloucester	Walpole
People
Population	5,766Highest	3,690Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±5.5Lowest 3% above U.S.	46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S.
	Walpole and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%	22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	New Gloucester and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Walpole and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,797±$12kHighest 35% above U.S.	$82,617±$16kLowest about the U.S. average
	New Gloucester and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,100±$29kHighest 7% above U.S.	$319,800±$48kLowest 4% below U.S.
	New Gloucester and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$249Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S.
	Walpole and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,417Lowest 10% above U.S.	$6,078Highest 95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.7%±12Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Walpole and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	14.2%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	New Gloucester 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	#65 of 133 in ME	#27 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 15/MSAD 15	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.