What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).

Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Walpole	Franklin
People
Population	3,690Lowest	8,799Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH	42.7±2Lowest about the NH average
	Walpole and Franklin 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%	17.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Walpole and Franklin 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%	21.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Walpole and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.8Highest NH: 6%	3.2%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%
	Walpole and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,617±$16kHighest 17% below NH	$71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH
	Walpole and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH	$262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH
	Walpole and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,165±$150Highest 22% below NH	$1,110±$68Lowest 26% below NH
	Walpole and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,078Highest 9% below NH	$4,886Lowest 27% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2%	38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Walpole and Franklin 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%	7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 12 yrs older than NH	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below NH	32 minHighest 18% above NH
Work from home	7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	8.3%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8%
	Franklin and Walpole 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	#112 of 120 in NH
School district	Fall Mountain Regional School District	Franklin School District
High school in town	None in town	Franklin High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	16.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.