Compare towns
Walpole vs Bow vs Wilton
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 most affordable homes ($320k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Wilton has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Bow | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690Lowest |
8,335Highest |
3,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
46.8±5.2Highest 8% above NH |
| Wilton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow 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 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22%±6.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole and Wilton 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% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,617±$16kLowest 17% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$114,349±$21k 15% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48kLowest 21% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$381,500±$23k 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,382±$70 7% below NH |
| Bow and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$7,612 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.1%±39.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Walpole and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Wilton 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Bow School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.