Compare towns
Walpole vs Randolph vs Middlesex 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
Walpole has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
Randolph has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Randolph | Middlesex | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,690 |
4,843Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Middlesex 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% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 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%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Bellows Falls 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% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Randolph and Bellows Falls 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 |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 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. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% 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. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Randolph 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. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #27 of 120 in NH | #55 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— | — |
| 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.