Compare towns
Walpole vs Putney vs Fairfax
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).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Putney | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690 |
2,622Lowest |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
38.8±3.3 about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Fairfax 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% |
24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfax 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% |
12.5%±4Lowest 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% |
49.5%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% |
4.3%±2.6 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 |
$128,963±$29kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$378,200±$22kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Fairfax 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. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,080±$131 24% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Fairfax 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. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$5,497 76% 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% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest 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% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairfax 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 | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.