What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).

Ashland has the most people working from home (9.9%).

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	Walpole	Ashland
People
Population	3,690Highest	2,183Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH	42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average
	Walpole and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%	21.4%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Walpole and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±5.4Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1%
	Ashland and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	35.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.8Highest NH: 6%	2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Walpole and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,617±$16kHighest 17% below NH	$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH	$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,165±$150Highest 22% below NH	$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH
	Walpole and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,078Highest 9% below NH	$4,961Lowest 26% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2%	39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Walpole and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	21.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below NH	26 minHighest 4% below NH
Work from home	7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	9.9%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Ashland 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	Fall Mountain Regional School District	Ashland 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.