Compare towns

Walpole vs Putney vs Bow

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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).

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.

MeasureWalpolePutneyBow
People
Population
3,690
2,622Lowest
8,335Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.5±10.4Highest
20% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
Walpole and Bow 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%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bow 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%
18.1%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Walpole and Putney 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%
48.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$82,617±$16k
about the U.S. average
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$319,800±$48k
4% below U.S.
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,165±$150
18% below U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,078
95% above U.S.
$5,313Lowest
70% above U.S.
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.6%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney 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%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
7.2%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow and Putney 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 #32 of 70 in VT #26 of 120 in NH
School district Fall Mountain Regional School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Bow School District
High school in town None in town None in town Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
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.