Compare towns
Walpole vs Barnstead vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has the most renters (30.1% rent).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690 |
4,994Highest |
2,999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Westminster 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 about the U.S. average |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| 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±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$6,003 92% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #27 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Barnstead School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.