Compare towns
Walpole vs Fairfax 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
Walpole has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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.
| Measure | Walpole | Fairfax | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690 |
5,226Highest |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
38.8±3.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfax and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Bellows Falls 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% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Fairfax 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 |
$128,963±$29kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$378,200±$22kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Fairfax and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,080±$131 24% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Fairfax 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. |
$5,497 76% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Bellows Falls 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% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #27 of 120 in NH | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Fairfax School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.