Compare towns
Walpole vs Montgomery vs Sheldon
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 renters (30.1% rent).
Montgomery has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Montgomery | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690Highest |
1,047Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Montgomery 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% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montgomery 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Montgomery 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 |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Sheldon 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. |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the U.S. average |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Montgomery 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. |
$868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Walpole 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. |
$4,326 39% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Walpole 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% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Montgomery and Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.