Compare towns
Walpole vs Hardwick 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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.
| Measure | Walpole | Hardwick | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690Highest |
2,684 |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest 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% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Hardwick 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% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Hardwick 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. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Hardwick 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. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Hardwick 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Quabbin | — |
| High school 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.