What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has the oldest population (median age 46.5).

Somersworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Walpole	Somersworth
People
Population	3,690Lowest	12,111Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+0.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH	38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH
	Walpole and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%	19.9%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Walpole and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1%	14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.8Lowest NH: 6%	4.9%±2Highest NH: 6%
	Somersworth and Walpole 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 17% below NH	$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH
	Walpole and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH	$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH
	Walpole and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH	$1,477±$134Highest about the NH average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,078Lowest 9% below NH	$6,805Highest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±21.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Somersworth and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	11.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967 12 yrs older than NH	1967 12 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below NH	26 minHighest 3% below NH
Work from home	7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	11.7%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Somersworth and Walpole 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	#117 of 120 in NH
School district	Fall Mountain Regional School District	Somersworth School District
High school in town	None in town	Somersworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.