Compare towns

Walpole vs Windham vs Putney 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 oldest population (median age 46.5).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k 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.

MeasureWalpoleWindhamPutneyBristol
People
Population
3,690Highest
594Lowest
2,622
3,273
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.5±10.4Highest
20% above U.S.
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
42.7±5.7
10% above U.S.
Walpole and Windham 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%
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
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%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Walpole and Windham 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%
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$82,617±$16k
about the U.S. average
$94,500±$12kHighest
17% above U.S.
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$78,438±$10kLowest
about the U.S. average
Windham 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.
$353,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$258,300±$63kLowest
22% below U.S.
Windham 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.
—
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,310±$97Highest
7% below U.S.
Bristol and Walpole 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.
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$4,162Lowest
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.6%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.3%±14.2
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%
9.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
7.2%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
11.8%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham 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 #79 of 120 in NH
School district Fall Mountain Regional School District — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Newfound Area School District
High school in town None in town — None in town Newfound Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
11.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 6 photos → 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.