Compare towns
Newfane vs Walpole vs Middlesex vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Walpole has the most renters (30.1% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Newfane | Walpole | Middlesex | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
3,690Highest |
1,943 |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 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+ | 29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% 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 | $5,174Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rivendell Interstate 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.