Compare towns
Walpole vs Barnstead vs Boscawen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Boscawen has the most affordable homes ($287k 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 | Walpole | Barnstead | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690Lowest |
4,994Highest |
4,044 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
46±4.2 6% above NH |
| Walpole and Boscawen 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%±5 NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$77,328±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH |
$286,500±$23kLowest 29% below NH |
| Barnstead and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,265±$307 15% below NH |
| Barnstead and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078 9% below NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,549Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Walpole and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Barnstead and Boscawen 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Barnstead School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.