Compare towns
Walpole vs Bristol vs Westminster vs Westminster
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,690Highest |
3,273 |
2,999 |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%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. |
43.3±11.5 11% 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%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Bristol 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%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster 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 |
$78,438±$10k about the U.S. average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Westminster 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±$63kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% 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±$126 35% below U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% 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. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% 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 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above 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% |
23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Westminster 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 | #53 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School | Bellows Falls Union High School | — |
| 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.