Compare towns
Walpole vs Halifax vs Worcester
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Halifax | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690Highest |
847 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Walpole 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% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Halifax 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% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Walpole 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 about the U.S. average |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Worcester 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. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Worcester 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. |
$4,991 60% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Worcester 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 | — | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Halifax School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.