Compare towns

Walpole vs White River Junction vs Westminster vs Bristol

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 expensive homes ($320k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).

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.

MeasureWalpoleWhite River JunctionWestminsterBristol
People
Population
3,690Highest
3,364
2,999Lowest
3,273
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.5±10.4
20% above U.S.
33.7±3.2Lowest
13% below U.S.
53.5±3.7Highest
38% above U.S.
42.7±5.7
10% above U.S.
Westminster 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%
17.1%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
24.3%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bristol 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%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.6%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Westminster 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
Westminster 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
about the U.S. average
$77,168±$4k
4% below U.S.
$71,491±$4kLowest
11% below U.S.
$78,438±$10k
about the U.S. average
Walpole and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$319,800±$48kHighest
4% below U.S.
$278,800±$78k
16% below U.S.
$273,800±$35k
18% below U.S.
$258,300±$63kLowest
22% below U.S.
Walpole and White River Junction 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.
$1,222±$216
14% below U.S.
$916±$126Lowest
35% below U.S.
$1,310±$97Highest
7% below U.S.
Bristol and White River Junction 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.
$5,651
81% above U.S.
$4,063Lowest
30% above U.S.
$4,162
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.6%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±17.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±7.5
U.S.: 51.1%
46.3%±14.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Walpole and Westminster 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%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below U.S.
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
7.2%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.8%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster and White River Junction 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 — #53 of 70 in VT #79 of 120 in NH
School district Fall Mountain Regional School District — Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District Newfound Area School District
High school in town None in town — Bellows Falls Union High School Newfound Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.6Lowest
11.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.