Compare towns

Walpole vs Dummerston vs Cornish vs Bellows Falls

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k 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.

MeasureWalpoleDummerstonCornishBellows Falls
People
Population
3,690Highest
2,090
1,816Lowest
2,891
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-12.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.5±10.4
20% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
41.3±6.7Lowest
6% above U.S.
Cornish 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%
21.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bellows Falls 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%
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.7%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornish 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%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
27.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
8.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bellows Falls 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±$16k
about the U.S. average
$101,696±$21kHighest
26% above U.S.
$91,821±$2k
14% above U.S.
$56,086±$2kLowest
31% below U.S.
Dummerston and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$319,800±$48k
4% below U.S.
$335,300±$22kHighest
about the U.S. average
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
$195,600±$35kLowest
41% below U.S.
Dummerston 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
18% below U.S.
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
$1,038±$109Lowest
27% below U.S.
Dummerston and Cornish 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.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$5,796
86% above U.S.
$4,448Lowest
43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.6%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
40.5%±38.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.9%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Walpole and Dummerston 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%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
25.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 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.
21 min
21% below U.S.
24 minHighest
8% below U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
Work from home
7.2%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston and Cornish 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 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Cornish School District —
High school in town None in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.