Compare towns
Walpole vs Epsom vs Barnstead 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Epsom has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Wilton has the most people working from home (16.7%).
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 | Epsom | Barnstead | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,690Lowest |
4,939 |
4,994Highest |
3,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.9% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
47.1±3.4Highest 9% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
46.8±5.2 8% above NH |
| Epsom and Wilton 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% |
18.2%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole and Barnstead 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% |
20.7%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest 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% |
40.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,617±$16kLowest 17% below NH |
$97,941±$13k about the NH average |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$114,349±$21kHighest 15% above NH |
| Wilton and Barnstead 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 |
$338,400±$19k 16% below NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$381,500±$23kHighest 5% below NH |
| Wilton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,212±$437 19% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,382±$70 7% below NH |
| Barnstead and Wilton 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 |
$6,210 7% below NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$7,612Highest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
71.2%±19.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
47.1%±39.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epsom and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wilton and Epsom 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 | #69 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Epsom School District | Barnstead School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.