Compare towns
Walpole vs Bristol vs Westminster 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).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Rockingham has the most affordable homes ($211k median).
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 | Bristol | Westminster | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,690 |
3,273 |
2,999Lowest |
4,807Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
42.7±5.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
46.4±2.6 19% 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Walpole 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% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rockingham and Westminster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rockingham 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±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$78,438±$10k about the U.S. average |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$70,857±$16kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Bristol 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. |
$258,300±$63k 22% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$210,900±$14kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Westminster 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. |
$1,310±$97Highest 7% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,062±$101 25% below U.S. |
| Bristol 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. |
$4,162 33% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,887 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±13.7 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | #79 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Newfound Area School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
10.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.