Compare towns
Walpole vs Middlesex vs Dover vs Bellows Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k 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 | Dover | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,690Highest |
1,943 |
1,466Lowest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Dover 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Walpole 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Middlesex 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. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$56,086±$2k 31% 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. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dover 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. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109 27% 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. |
$4,510 45% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Bellows Falls 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Dover 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| 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 | 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.