Compare towns
Walpole vs Durham 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 most kids (22.2% under 18).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690 |
15,080Highest |
2,999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% 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%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Westminster 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Durham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078 95% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.