Compare towns
Walpole vs Braintree vs Rockingham
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 expensive homes ($320k median).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Rockingham has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Braintree | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690 |
1,026Lowest |
4,807Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
46.4±2.6Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Braintree 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% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Rockingham 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% |
37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rockingham 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±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$70,857±$16kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Braintree 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. |
$217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
$210,900±$14kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,062±$101 25% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Rockingham 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. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,887 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Rockingham 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% |
11.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Rockingham 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 | — | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.