Compare towns
Walpole vs Worcester vs Ripton 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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.
| Measure | Walpole | Worcester | Ripton | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,690Highest |
831 |
508Lowest |
3,273 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
42.7±5.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$78,438±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Ripton 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. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$258,300±$63kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Ripton 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. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% 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. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,162Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Ripton 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 | — | — | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.