Compare towns
Walpole vs Canaan 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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Wilton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Canaan | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690Lowest |
3,811 |
3,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
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%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole and Canaan 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% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Canaan 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±$16k 17% below NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$114,349±$21kHighest 15% above NH |
| Wilton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$381,500±$23kHighest 5% below NH |
| Wilton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150 22% below NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,382±$70Highest 7% below NH |
| Wilton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078 9% below NH |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$7,612Highest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.1%±39.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wilton and Canaan 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
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.