Compare towns

Walpole vs Brighton vs Putney

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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).

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.

MeasureWalpoleBrightonPutney
People
Population
3,690Highest
1,167Lowest
2,622
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.5±10.4Highest
20% above U.S.
45.2±11.6
16% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
Walpole and Brighton 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%
18.3%±5.7
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Walpole and Brighton 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%
27.2%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brighton 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%
25.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$82,617±$16kHighest
about the U.S. average
$47,375±$21kLowest
41% below U.S.
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
Walpole and Putney 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.
$163,900±$39kLowest
51% below U.S.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
Walpole and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,165±$150Highest
18% below U.S.
$775±$33
45% below U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,078Highest
95% above U.S.
$3,360Lowest
8% above U.S.
$5,313
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.6%±21.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55%±17Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Brighton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
22%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
51.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
Work from home
7.2%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±8.1
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Putney and Brighton 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 — #32 of 70 in VT
School district Fall Mountain Regional School District Brighton School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
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

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.