Compare towns
Walpole vs Hanover 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 oldest population (median age 46.5).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690 |
11,685Highest |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Westminster 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Hanover 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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078 95% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,480Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Westminster 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.