Compare towns
Walpole vs Worcester vs Townshend
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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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.
| Measure | Walpole | Worcester | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690Highest |
831Lowest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Worcester 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% |
52.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Townshend 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±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Townshend 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. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Townshend 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. |
$5,364 72% 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% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Worcester 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 | — | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.