Compare towns
Walpole vs Bellows Falls vs Hartford
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 oldest population (median age 46.5).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Bellows Falls | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690 |
2,891Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Bellows Falls 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% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Hartford 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 about the U.S. average |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Hartford 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. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hartford 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6 |
| 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.