What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).

Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($192k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Walpole	Colebrook
People
Population	3,690Highest	1,988Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.5±10.4Lowest 7% above NH	53.7±4.9Highest 24% above NH
	Colebrook 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%	13.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Walpole and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±5.4Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%
	Colebrook 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%Highest NH: 40.6%	16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.8Highest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%
	Walpole and Colebrook 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 17% below NH	$51,159±$6kLowest 48% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH	$192,200±$59kLowest 52% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,165±$150Highest 22% below NH	$750±$238Lowest 50% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,078Highest 9% below NH	$4,350Lowest 35% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2%	50.3%±19.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Walpole and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	13.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	69.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH	1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 13% below NH	21 minLowest 21% below NH
Work from home	7.2%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8%	5.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Walpole and Colebrook 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	—
School district	Fall Mountain Regional School District	Colebrook School District
High school in town	None in town	Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H)
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.