Compare towns
Walpole vs Durham 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Wilton has the most homeowners (77%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690Lowest |
10,681Highest |
3,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole and Wilton 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,617±$16kLowest 17% below NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$114,349±$21kHighest 15% above NH |
| Wilton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48kLowest 21% below NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$381,500±$23k 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,382±$70Highest 7% below NH |
| Wilton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078Lowest 9% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,612 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.1%±39.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wilton and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.