Compare towns
Waterville vs Walpole vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($320k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Waterville | Walpole | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
3,690Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #27 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.