Compare towns
Walpole vs Middlesex vs Brattleboro
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 most kids (22.2% under 18).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k 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 | Middlesex | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690 |
1,943Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Walpole 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078 95% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,700Lowest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Brattleboro 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro 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 | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| 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.