Compare towns
Walpole vs Worcester vs Rockingham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Rockingham has the most affordable homes ($211k 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 | Worcester | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690 |
831Lowest |
4,807Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
46.4±2.6Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Rockingham 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% |
29.8%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rockingham 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% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Rockingham 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$70,857±$16kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Worcester 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. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$210,900±$14kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,062±$101 25% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Rockingham 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. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,887 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Rockingham 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Rockingham 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 | — | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.